Seoul: South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has made a strong call for enhanced cooperation with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI), as she participated in business roundtable meetings during the inaugural summit between Korea and Central Asian nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Prime Minister Han emphasized the significance of critical minerals as strategic assets vital to industry, technology, and national security, echoing President Lee Jae Myung's sentiments. She highlighted the longstanding trust built through stable trade in energy resources, such as crude oil and uranium, and advocated for broadening cooperation into critical minerals like lithium and rare metals, essential for future high-tech industries.
Han proposed that by combining Kazakhstan's abundant resources with South Korea's advanced technologies, the two nations could establish a comprehensive critical minerals industry ecosystem encompassing exploration, processing, and high-value-added materials production. This collaboration, she stated, would not only propel Kazakhstan's industrial development but also create a resilient model to navigate global supply chain uncertainties.
In a subsequent business forum with Uzbekistan, attended by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Han reiterated her call for expanded cooperation. She pointed out Uzbekistan's wealth of minerals such as tungsten, molybdenum, and lithium, crucial for high-tech industries. By leveraging Korea's mineral processing and material technologies alongside Uzbekistan's resources, both countries could ensure a stable supply chain for critical minerals and advance Uzbekistan's industrial progress.
Han further advocated for collaboration with Uzbekistan in AI and digital technologies, aiming to modernize manufacturing processes and cultivate a skilled workforce jointly.
During discussions with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Han proposed expanding cooperation into the petrochemical sector and water management to bolster Turkmenistan's industrial growth. She also suggested that the initial collaboration in cargo ship construction could evolve into modernizing Caspian Sea ports, promoting eco-friendly transportation, and enhancing smart logistics. Additionally, South Korean digital technologies could contribute to developing smart cities in Turkmenistan, according to her office.