The first Korea-Central Asia Summit will be held in Seoul on Wednesday, with separate one-on-one summit meetings between President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ahead of the six-way summit, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.
According to Seoul’s presidential office, the Korea-Central Asia Summit, the first of its kind, will provide a platform for elevating cooperation, which has continued at the ministerial level since the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was launched in 2007, and adopt a “Seoul Declaration” setting out a long-term partnership framework.
At Friday's meeting with senior aides, Lee stressed the potential the five nations hold.
"Central Asia is the geographical center of the Eurasian continent, and it is a region that has very big potential for growth with ample energy and core mineral resources," Lee said.
"Through the upcoming summit, relations between Korea and Central Asia will be cemented in multilateral cooperation, and our New Northern Policy that we have been implementing will gain momentum."
Ahead of the summit, Lee will meet with the president of Uzbekistan on Monday and with the presidents of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan the following day. On Wednesday, before the Korea-Central Asia Summit scheduled for the afternoon, Lee will meet with the presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan will be coming to Korea on state visits, while the Tajik and Kyrgyz leaders will make official visits.
Following the summit on Wednesday, the six leaders will attend a Korea-Central Asia Business Summit involving about 500 government and corporate representatives, followed by an official dinner that evening.
Seoul said it aims to link Central Asia’s critical minerals and energy resources with South Korean exploration and processing technology, diversify global supply chains and expand opportunities for Korean companies in infrastructure and plant projects. Cooperation will also cover customs, regulations and intellectual property.
Seoul’s presidential office said that the government plans to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, drugs and cybercrime, citing recent coordination with Kazakhstan that led to the arrest of 19 members of a voice-phishing ring involving 5.8 billion won ($4.3 million).
Beyond resources and infrastructure, Seoul wants to expand ties into artificial intelligence, digital technology, science, climate response, water management and disaster preparedness over the next 30 years.
The summit also comes ahead of next year’s 90th anniversary of the settlement of ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, with Seoul planning to expand Korean-language, cultural and youth exchange programs.
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com
