South Korea Expands Ties with Five Central Asian Nations
Lee and five Central Asian leaders will discuss critical minerals, energy and supply chains, with a business summit drawing about 500 officials and company representatives.
- On Sept. 16, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and leaders of five Central Asian states will meet in Seoul for their first summit, elevating nearly two decades of ministerial dialogue into a leader-level partnership.
- Although the regional format provides an institutional umbrella, Seoul has increasingly tailored bilateral ties to each country's specific strengths, moving away from treating Central Asia as a single economic space since 2007.
- With investments surpassing $12 billion since 2005, Kazakhstan has emerged as a leading energy partner; Aidar Kurmashev of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies cited the $310 million KIA plant in Kostanai as a model for industrial integration.
- Beyond resource extraction, Central Asian governments seek technology and processing capacity to integrate into global supply chains. Kurmashev said the summit mandates agencies to resolve cross-border obstacles facing Korean-backed projects.
- South Korea views energy, critical minerals, and connectivity as one strategic discussion to diversify from vulnerable maritime supply routes, though realizing this potential requires navigating complex geography and infrastructure limitations.
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12 Articles
South Korea Meets Central Asia: What is at Stake at Seoul Summit
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of all five Central Asian states will meet in Seoul on Sept. 16 for their first summit, seeking to turn nearly two decades of ministerial dialogue into a leader-level partnership focused on critical minerals, energy and resilient supply chains. Lee has described Central Asia…
On Monday, South Korea and the Central Asian States pledged to strengthen cooperation in supply chains, particularly in the area of vital minerals, during a ministerial meeting held in Seoul, with the participation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-heon = Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdy stated that resource-rich Kazakhstan goes beyond simply supplying major minerals ...
The President of Uzbekistan visited Korea and emphasized strengthening the strategic partnership with Korea for future high-tech industrial cooperation and supply chain diversification. The two countries agreed to open a new Silk Road of the 21st century by establishing joint production systems and technology platforms, and plan to elevate Korea-Central Asia relations to the next level through this summit.
Central Asian Ministers agreed with South Korea to expand industrial cooperation
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