Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and leaders from five Central Asian countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, energy, and other strategic areas. This consensus was reached at the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit, which took place in Seoul and included the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit aimed to enhance cooperation between the two regions, focusing on building industrial capabilities and value chains. Presidential secretary for public relations, Seong Ghi-hong, conveyed that President Lee emphasized the significance of moving beyond individual projects to jointly nurture industrial growth. The proposal involves leveraging Central Asia's strengths in critical minerals and energy alongside South Korea's technological expertise to create jobs and expand supply chains.
The agreement also led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in industries and supply chains. This pact covers various sectors, including industrial policies, manufacturing, infrastructure, critical minerals, energy, and digital transition. To implement their agreement, the leaders established a consultative body comprising industrial ministers from the involved countries.
President Lee highlighted the strategic importance of Central Asian countries for South Korea, noting their rich natural resources and emerging markets. He proposed merging South Korea's manufacturing capabilities and technologies with Central Asia's industry development goals to foster mutual interest-driven cooperation.
The summit was hailed by the Central Asian leaders as a foundational step for high-level discussions on regional cooperation with South Korea. They expressed optimism about strategically deepening these ties. The Seoul Declaration, adopted during the summit, outlines the agreements and visions for collaboration, marking a "new landmark" for future cooperation.
Additionally, an initiative for collaboration in artificial intelligence and science was adopted. President Lee called for joint efforts to harness opportunities arising from AI and technological innovations. He also sought support from the Central Asian leaders for efforts to address North Korea's nuclear issues and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee emphasized the historical significance of the Silk Road, drawing parallels to the current global interconnectedness in economy, technology, and security. He advocated for a renewed "Silk Road spirit" to address contemporary challenges and achieve shared prosperity.
Concluding the summit, Lee described it as a "new starting point" for future partnerships and extended an invitation to meet again in Kazakhstan in two years. Seong noted that the summit could serve as a pivotal moment for South Korea to transform its long-standing ties with Central Asia into a future-oriented partnership and broaden its diplomatic outreach across Eurasia.