South Korea supported Kazakhstan bid to host EXPO-2017

South Korea supported Kazakhstan in its bid to host EXPO-2017, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev as saying after the meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak. "I have asked to support our application to host EXPO-2017. Korean party supports us and we are thankful for that," President Nazarbayev said thanking his South Korean colleague Lee Myung-Bak. In his turn, Lee Myung-Bak thanked Kazakhstan for its active participation in the global exhibition EXPO-2012 held in July in South Korean Yeosu. "I have already seen Astana and each time I come here, I see how quickly the city changes and I really feel Kazakhstan's rapid development," South Korean President added. General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) was held on July 1, 2010, where Kazakhstan officially announced its intention to bid for hosting EXPO-2017 in Astana. On June 14, 2011, Kazakhstan held its first presentation to host EXPO-2017 at the 149th session of the General Assembly of BIE in Paris. The winner will be announced in December 2012 at the next session of BIE General Assembly. By Nazymgul Kumyspayeva