SEOUL - In the concluding moments of his four-day tour of Turkmenistan, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin has advocated for enhanced collaborative efforts with Central Asian nations in sectors including health and climate change, as reported by his office on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during a forum attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Minister Park emphasized the urgency of unity amid the ongoing global challenges. He identified the areas of information and communications technology, health and medicine, environmental concerns, transportation, education, science, and tourism as key fields for expanded cooperation between South Korea and the Central Asian countries.
The foreign minister proposed the pursuit of new avenues for growth through the establishment of advanced fifth-generation communication networks. He assured that South Korea, with its prowess in information technology, would spearhead efforts to bridge the digital divide among nations.
Park also elaborated on South Korea's initiatives against climate change, highlighting the nation's recent commitment to contribute an additional US$300 million to the Green Climate Fund. He committed to ongoing collaboration with Central Asian counterparts in addressing environmental challenges.
Amid discussions on security, Minister Park underscored the necessity for a concerted international approach to North Korea's actions and sought Central Asia's backing for Seoul's policies concerning Pyongyang.
Regarding Seoul's campaign to host the 2030 World Expo, Park solicited support from the Central Asian nations, suggesting that the event could catalyze further development in their relations.
Throughout his visit, Park engaged in individual discussions with his counterparts from the visited countries, exploring avenues to bolster bilateral trade, investment, and various other partnerships.
The visit also included a diplomatic gesture with Park meeting Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.