During the visit Nursultan Nazarbayev was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Sciences of Yonsei University.
Addressing the staff of the country’s one of the leading educational institutions, the President said that the institution’s activities are aimed at shaping future leaders and the priority development of education is the key to the progress made in South Korea.
- Your country just during two generational changes has managed to turn from a beneficiary of foreign aid to a major donor. You are steadily implementing the task of joining the seven countries in terms of competitiveness in the field of science and technology in 2025. The key to achievement is advance of human resources and technology, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The Kazakh President spoke in praise about the policy of the Republic of Korea on the creative economy growth, emphasizing that our country also carries out modernization of the economy and society.
- The special focus in the reforms is on the knowledge-based economy and upgrading the human potential. Our main goal lies in competitive growth of increasing the competitiveness of trained specialists and increase of the education sector’s export potential, he said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan intends to shift the emphasis in cooperation with the Republic of Korea towards implementation of high-tech and innovative projects.
- Close cooperation of universities, research institutes and centres of the two countries should play a leading role. At the same time, we are determined to expand educational exchanges among young people. After all, the younger generation will shape the future of relations between our countries, the President of Kazakhstan said.
In that regard, the Head of State pointed out the great prospects that are opening in establishing a partnership between the Korean scientific community and the Nazarbayev University in Astana.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also drew attention to the close cooperation between the two countries, friendly and confidential nature of the relationship, the similarity of approaches to topical issues of international and regional agenda.
Trade-economic cooperation, which is progressively developing, has been called by the President of Kazakhstan as the important segment of bilateral partnership.
The President noted that during his meeting with President Park Geun-hye the agreement was reached on taking the Kazakh-Korean strategic partnership to a new level, stressing that such work is contributed much to by the Korean diaspora, which is the integral part of the multinational people of Kazakhstan.
In conclusion, Nursultan Nazarbayev wished every success and new accomplishments to the Yonsei University faculty.
University President Kim Yong-hak said that Kazakhstan, under the leadership of Nursultan Nazarbayev, had abandoned nuclear weapons, made impressive gains in social and economic development; and the conferment of the Honorary Doctor title is a high estimation of the merits.
The President also talked with the Kazakh students during his visit to the University.
