Ambassador of Kazakhstan  Nurgali  Arystanov honored with Plaque of Citation

By Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik, VC Choe Nam-suk, Editor Joy Cho

Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali  Arystanov honored with Plaque of Citation

On Nov. 28, 2023, Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov in Seoul was presented with a prestigious Plaque of Citation at his Embassy in Seoul for his immeasurable contribution made to the promotion of relations, friendship and cooperation between his country of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Arystanov stands out from among many wonderful ambassadors in the Republic of Korea.

For one thing, Ambassador Arystanov is great admirer of Korea and Korean people and this is very well exemplified by his personal interest in the promotion of relations, cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

Theses features on the part of Ambassador Arystanov were immediately apparent to the publisher and editors of The Korea Post media, formed with former editors of The Korea Herald and The Korea Times, who have covered the Diplomatic Community in Korea for the past 60 years, including 38 years with The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean-language news publications since 1958.

Here is a brief account of the Republic of Kazakhstan by various sources of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The Republic of Kazakhstan, a very friendly country of the world to the Republic of Korea is the ninth largest country in the world, with a territory the size of Western Europe.

Since gaining her independence in December 1991, Kazakhstan has rapidly grown into an economic powerhouse in the Central Asian region over the past two decades based on an active national development strategy and abundant resources such as oil and gas.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Kazakhstan in 1992, Korea and Kazakhstan have deepened cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, and culture.

In 2009, bilateral relations were upgraded to a strategic partner status, and in 2022, bilateral trade volume reached US$6.5 billion and cumulative investment from Korea to Kazakhstan reached US$9.2 billion. There are currently more than 740 Korean companies operating in Kazakhstan.

A general visa waiver agreement was signed in June 2014 and a temporary labor agreement in September 2014, and a direct flight between the two capitals, Seoul and Astana, was established in June 2015 contributing to the promotion of exchange and cooperation between the two countries, which are expected to drastically further increase in various fields.

Kazakhstan is an important partner in the peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula, and is a reciprocal partner in the economic fields of energy resources, construction, healthcare, and information and communication.

The new economic cooperation program 'Fresh Wind' signed in April 2019 is expected to contribute to diversifying economic cooperation between the two countries and deepening the strategic partnership.

Korea hopes to build on the friendly and cooperative relationship that has been established between Korea and Kazakhstan to create a win-win growth model for both countries.

Korea will strive to contribute to Kazakhstan's industrial diversification policy by sharing Korea’s economic growth experience, and Korea will broaden the scope of mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries through various exchange events such as K-Pop.

Over 120,000 Koreans living in Kazakhstan are growing into a respected ethnic minority in all walks of life in Kazakhstan. Korea will continue to spare no effort to help them contribute to Kazakhstan's national development and play a bridge role in the development of bilateral relations.