South Korea to host first Central Asia summit on critical minerals

Seoul is set to host the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit next week, a landmark event aimed at fostering deeper cooperation with the region. The summit, scheduled for Wednesday, will convene the heads of state from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The primary focus will be on strengthening partnerships in critical minerals, energy resources, and diversifying global supply chains. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated that the initiative seeks to merge Central Asia's abundant natural resources with South Korea's advanced exploration and processing capabilities. Additionally, the summit will explore ways to facilitate the expansion of South Korean businesses into the region by aligning with the infrastructure and plant needs of participating countries, while also addressing cooperation in customs, regulations, and intellectual property rights. The meeting also aims to secure support from Central Asian nations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula and in combating transnational crimes like terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime. This summit marks a significant step in expanding South Korea's diplomatic engagement in a region of growing strategic importance amidst global security challenges. Future cooperation is envisioned to extend beyond resources and infrastructure into advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, science and technology, and climate change response. South Korea plans to elevate its cooperation framework with Central Asia from the ministerial to the summit level, introducing a "Seoul Declaration" to outline a long-term vision and establish a new multilateral cooperation framework. President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, followed by meetings with the leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday. A business summit will also take place after the main leaders' meeting to bolster economic ties between South Korean and Central Asian business communities.