President Lee to Chair Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul on 16th and Announce ‘Seoul Declaration’

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung will chair the first multilateral summit with the leaders of five Central Asian countries in Seoul on the 16th, seeking to expand cooperation on critical-mineral and energy supply chains as well as future industries. Through the summit, the government plans to elevate the Korea–Central Asia cooperation framework, which has operated at the ministerial level since 2007, to the leaders’ level. It also plans to present a mid- to long-term vision for cooperation through the ‘Seoul Declaration.’
Kang Yoo-jung, a senior presidential spokesperson, said in a written briefing on the 11th, “The first Korea–Central Asia Summit will be held in Seoul on the afternoon of the 16th.” She added, “President Lee will chair the summit under the theme ‘Korea–Central Asia Cooperation Directions and Partnership for Strengthening Innovation, Prosperity, and Connectivity.’”
She continued, “This summit is the first multilateral summit our government has held with countries in the Central Asian region.” She emphasized, “Amid uncertain international circumstances, it will serve as an important starting point for broadening our diplomatic horizons toward Central Asia, whose strategic importance is growing.”
Kang added, “Through this summit, the government plans to elevate the cooperation framework maintained at the ministerial level since the launch of the ‘Korea–Central Asia Cooperation Forum’ in 2007 to the leaders’ level. By presenting a mid- to long-term vision for cooperation through the ‘Seoul Declaration,’ we will establish a sustainable multilateral cooperation framework.”
Following the summit, President Lee will attend the ‘Korea–Central Asia Business Summit’ with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries. About 500 government and business representatives from the participating countries are expected to attend. An official dinner for the leaders and other distinguished guests will be held in the evening.
President Lee will also hold bilateral talks with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries. The leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan will make state visits, while the leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will make official visits. Lee will begin with talks with the Uzbek leader on the afternoon of the 14th, followed by separate meetings with the Turkmen leader on the morning of the 15th and the Kazakh leader that afternoon. On the morning of the 16th, he will hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in succession.
Using the Korea–Central Asia Summit and bilateral meetings as an opportunity, the government plans to diversify global supply chains by combining Central Asia’s abundant critical minerals and energy resources with South Korea’s exploration and processing technologies. It also plans to expand cooperation in customs clearance, regulations, and intellectual property rights. In infrastructure and plant projects, the government aims to increase opportunities for Korean companies to enter local markets and win contracts through cooperation tailored to each country’s circumstances.
The government will also seek support from Central Asian countries on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula while strengthening cooperation against transnational crimes, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.
Beyond resources and infrastructure, cooperation will also expand into advanced and environmentally friendly fields, including artificial intelligence, digital technology, science and technology, climate change response, water-resource management, and disaster response. The goal is to establish a new foundation for growth with a view toward the next 30 years.
Kang explained, “Through this summit, the government will elevate cooperation with Central Asia to a new level across all areas, including supply chains, future industries, and people-to-people exchanges, and turn this into tangible achievements in implementing the New Northern Policy and diversifying our diplomacy.”
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter