By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Korea-Pakistan diplomatic ties, established forty-one years ago, have blossomed into a partnership, based on respect, cordiality, and mutual interest,” said Amb. Nabeel Munir of Pakistan to Korea. Delivering a speech at the Pakistan’s National Day reception held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on March 21, Amb. Munir said, “From socio-economic development to trade and investment, from defense cooperation to cultural exchanges, this partnership continues to blossom. “The ‘Miracle on Han River’ continues to inspire us. We want to learn fr
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) in cooperation with the Korea Energy Economic Institute (KEEI), Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), German policy consultancy think tank adelphi and Hydrogen Convergence Alliance held the 6th Korean-German Energy Day (KGED) conference on March 21 at Grand Hyatt Berlin, Germany. The KGED is the flagship event of the Korean-German Energy Partnership, co-hosted by German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and Kore
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Navruz is one of the brightest, most joyful and beautiful holidays, not only in Uzbekistan, but in the whole Muslim East! Spring festival of Navruz, the oriental New Year, is directly connected with the coming of spring and is celebrated on 21 March, on the spring (vernal) equinox, when day becomes equal to night and continues to win from it several minutes with every next turn of the Earth, and when the New Solar Year brings a new phase of renewal. On the eve of Nowruz holiday, the managing editor of "Diplomacy Journal" Lee Kap-soo held an interview with Vital
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered an address at the National Kurultai (National Congress) on March 15. He primally focused on Kazakhstan’s development, outlining key tasks and priorities for the country. The President stated that addressing economic issues alone does not suffice for becoming a genuinely developed nation, adding that Kazakhstan must take a comprehensive approach, outlining guidelines not only in the socio-econ
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with Dr. Thomas Bagger, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, on March 11. They exchanged views on matters of mutual interests, such as bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Foreign Minister Cho and State Secretary Bagger agreed to work towards rearranging President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Germany, which was inevitably postponed last month due to various domestic affairs, at an appropriate time. They also agreed to further bolster the ties between the two countries throug
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov met with Daejeon City Mayor Lee Jang-woo in Daejeon City on March 12 to explore ways to expand bilateral cooperation. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of collaboration in science and education. He talked about President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's vision for a prosperous Kazakhstan, in which priority is also attached to increasing scientific and technical potential. This, as noted by the Kazakh Envoy, opens new opportunities for closer ties with Korea, especially in areas like digital transformation and training
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | The following article was contributed by Kamila Sabirova, leading research fellow at Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Diplomacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. -- Ed. In recent years, addressing the challenges posed by climate change and finding ways to adapt and mitigate its negative impacts have become crucial priorities for global sustainable development, including our country. Uzbekistan, being one of the lands most vulnerable to climate change, has consi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Dildora Karimova, Doctor of Economics, Project Manager, Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Diplomacy Journal for publication via the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. The principles of a «social state», as defined in the renewed Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted in 2023, require the unconditional provision of citizens' interests and rights to social protection, a fundamental improvement in the quality of social service
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol received John Podesta, Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy to the President of the United States, at the presidential office on March 12, and exchanged views on bilateral climate cooperation, global climate crisis response, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The President welcomed Mr. Podesta to Korea on his first overseas trip since being appointed to his current position. Recalling that he and President Biden agreed to expand cooperation on green technologies, including carbon reduction, during his state visit to the Un
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Almaty, Kazakhstan welcomed the inauguration of its first CU store, a collaboration between Shin-Line Group and South Korea's BGF Retail on March 6, 2024. This historic occasion heralds the entry of South Korea's retailer into the Kazakhs market, promising to the Almaty’s retail landscape. The CU store chain is poised to enhance the shopping experience for Almaty's populace. These stores boast appealing exteriors, unique interiors, swift service, and competitive pricing. Andrey Shin, President of the Shin-Line Group, highlighted the transformative impact of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo “Today, Korea is 6th largest investor and 4th largest trade partner for Kazakhstan. In 2023, the number of Korean tourists traveling to Kazakhstan more than doubled,” said Nurgali A. Arystanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea. In an exclusive interview with the Diplomacy Journal, Amb. Arystanov said, “We are now working on creating more conducive conditions for people-to-people ties between Kazakhstan and Korea. We discussed the ways to increase the frequency of flights between Kazakhstan and Korea, and adding new destinations
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN Secretary-General on March 9 highlighted the urgent need for a negotiated political solution in Syria, emphasizing the protection of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation. March marks the thirteenth anniversary of the conflict in Syria, with systematic atrocities and untold suffering of civilians. According to UN estimates, 16.7 million people, equivalent to 70 per cent of the total population, will require humanitarian assistance in 2024. Roughly half the pre-war population remains displaced inside or outside Syria. Compounding the crisis, a ser
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Women In koRea (WIR: ‘We’ in German) leadership group of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a successful kick-off event on March 8, marking its sixth edition of annual mentoring program. Hosted jointly by the Embassy of Germany in Seoul at the residence of German Ambassador Georg Schmidt, the event drew over 100 participants, especially female executive mentors and mentees from diverse sectors and organizations. Among the attendees were representatives from Bayer Korea, BNP Paribas Seoul Branch, Deutsche Bank Seoul Branch, Henkel Korea,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo In a dynamic landscape of global partnerships, the KIGAM International Network Forum 2024 on “Critical Minerals in Asia and Africa”, held on March 5, 2024, provided a platform for meaningful discourse and strategic collaborations. Hosted by Dr. Lee Pyeong-Koo, President of the Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), the event brought together government officials, industry leaders, diplomats and other stakeholders from Asian and African countries such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Tanzania. Kazakhstan was represented by
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann), in cooperation with Busan Metropolitan City, held the KGCCI Economic Outlook 2024 on March 7 at Park Hyatt Hotel Busan. The event was followed by a special reception of KGCCI and the German Embassy with more 100 business leaders, governmental officials, industry experts and the German community. The event was organized to provide exclusive insights into the developments of Korean-German business relations in these challenging times. Distinguished speakers includin