South Korea calls 1st Central Asia summit in push for trade and minerals
South Korea will host its first summit with Central Asia’s five leaders next week, seeking more reliable mineral supplies and new business opportunities across the region.
The meeting takes place in Seoul on 16 September. President Lee Jae Myung will host the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, with energy, critical minerals, investment and supply chains at the top of the agenda, Yonhap reported.
Uzbekistan will hold bilateral talks with Lee on the afternoon of 14 September. Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan follow on 15 September, with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan meeting him the following morning.
A business summit will follow the joint leaders’ meeting, bringing together about 500 government and company representatives, according to the South Korean presidential office.
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Minerals, factories and fewer business hurdles
Seoul wants to combine Central Asia’s mineral and energy resources with Korean exploration and processing technology. The aim is to broaden its sources of supply while helping Korean companies enter regional markets.
Diversification is crucial for South Korea’s semiconductor and electric vehicle industries. Seoul has already pursued mineral exploration agreements with Kazakhstan, covering lithium, chromium, uranium and rare earths.
For Uzbekistan, the discussions build on existing plans to move further into mineral processing. Investment Minister Laziz Kudratov said last year that agreements with South Korea covered the chain from extraction to commercialisation, linking Uzbek deposits with Korean industrial expertise.
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Beyond resources
South Korea also wants to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, science and climate action. Security discussions will include Korean Peninsula issues and joint responses to terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime, Yonhap reported.
The meeting will elevate a regional cooperation process, launched in 2007, from ministerial to presidential level. A planned Seoul Declaration will set out longer-term priorities, according to the presidential office.
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