President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea to arrive in Kazakhstan August 24

August 24-25 President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea is to arrive in Kazakhstan on an official visit, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry. “A number of documents in various realms of cooperation are expected to be signed following the talks of the two heads of state. Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital city, is also to host a Kazakh-Korean business forum”, Askar Abdrakhmanov, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman told August 22. According to him, “the official Astana hopes that the visit will be the next milestone in strengthening and expanding the strategic cooperation, notably in the economic realm” and “will enable to exchange viewpoints at the highest level on a number of issues on bilateral and multilateral agendas”. Early May Tengrinews.kz reported that Kazakhstan’s Senate had ratified an agreement between Governments of Kazakhstan and South Korea to allocate land plots to South Korea for construction of diplomatic premises of South Korea in Astana. The regulation allows the Korean side to use the land plot [allocated to construct the nation’s Embassy in Astana] for 49 consecutive years. The land plot totals 1 hectare. Another half a hectare is allocated to accommodate South Korea ambassador’s residence. According to the Agreement, the rent rate stands at 25 US Dollar Pence per 1 square meter. The Korean side is exempted from any taxes. The Agreement was signed in Seoul April 22, 2010.