Central Asia, a land of deserts, steppes, snow-capped mountains, and flowers, remains a distant and unfamiliar region despite being part of the Asian continent.
However, a closer look reveals that this distance is surprisingly short. The cultural resonance of Tengriism, which reveres the sky, evokes the Dangun myth, while the legacy of General Hong Beom-do, a symbol of the armed independence movement during the Japanese occupation, and the history of over 300,000 Korean compatriots are etched in this land.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
The five Central Asian countries, located in the heart of Eurasia, are no longer a 'distant periphery.'
Rich in oil, natural gas, uranium, and essential minerals, they serve as a strategic crossroads connecting China, Russia, Europe, and the Middle East. The value of Central Asia has risen amid disruptions in supply chains and energy security due to the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-China competition, and instability in the Middle East. This is why major countries, including China, Russia, the U.S., the EU, and Japan, are increasingly engaging in high-level cooperation with the five Central Asian nations.
Central Asia is also expanding its strategic options by partnering with multiple countries rather than relying on a single great power. This presents an opportunity for South Korea.
The trust built since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, along with experience in manufacturing, digital technology, and infrastructure development, aligns with Central Asia's resources, youthful markets, and growth potential. By 2025, trade between the two sides is expected to exceed $10 billion for the first time.
On September 16-17, leaders from South Korea and the five Central Asian countries will gather for the first time.
President Lee Jae-myung will meet with Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdymukhamedov to discuss a new framework for South Korea-Central Asia relations.
A multilateral summit with the six leaders will take place on the 16th, followed by bilateral meetings between President Lee and the Central Asian leaders on the 17th.
Alongside the summit, a South Korea-Central Asia Business Summit will also be held, focusing on 'Future Cooperation for Growth and Innovation.' Government officials and business leaders from South Korea and Central Asia will explore ways to translate the cooperation discussed in diplomatic talks into actual investments and industrial collaboration.
The significance of this summit extends beyond merely what can be gained from Central Asia.
It aims to create a sustainable partnership that connects resources and markets, as well as supply chains, logistics, digital technology, climate, culture, and talent.
The South Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, which began in 2007, will elevate its intergovernmental cooperation to a high-level consultative body through this summit.
Three decades of exchanges are entering a new era of diplomatic engagement.
The challenge now is how to integrate Central Asia's resources with South Korea's industries and technologies, as well as the growth potential of Central Asia with the experience of South Korean companies.
This summit marks the starting point for transforming a long-standing relationship into shared prosperity.
Central Asia is no longer a blank space on the map.
It represents a new path to broaden South Korea's diplomatic and economic horizons. This summit in Seoul is the first milestone on that path.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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