"A Platform for Substantive Cooperation, Not a One-Off Event"

- Groundwork for the Korea-Central Asia Summit

[Ambassadors' Roundtable] Expanding Korea-Central Asia Cooperation: Energy, Industry, and Cultural Exchange

❍ The Ambassadors' Roundtable themed "Expanding Multi-Layered Korea-Central Asia Cooperation: Energy, Industry, and Cultural Exchange," hosted by the Jeju Peace Institute (JPI), was held at Crystal Hall A of the Haevich Hotel at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24.

❍ Moderated by DOO Jin-ho, Director of Eurasia Research Center, Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, the panel featured Aida ISMAILOVA, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Republic of Korea; Begench DURDYYEV, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea; KIROM Salohiddin, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea; Alisher ABDUSALOMOV, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea; Asset ISSENALI, Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea; and BAIK Joohyeon, Senior Advisor, Shin & Kim LLC and Former Korean Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

❍ This session was arranged to explore multi-layered and substantive avenues of cooperation between South Korea and the Central Asian countries ahead of the First Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for September 2026.

❍ The panelists agreed that Central Asia is a region rich in potential for expanding complementary cooperation with South Korea in areas such as energy, critical minerals, transport and logistics connectivity, industrial cooperation, and cultural exchange.

❍ Participants recommended that the Korea-Central Asia Summit be institutionalized as a platform for implementing substantive cooperation rather than a one-off diplomatic event. They stressed that energy and critical-mineral cooperation should move beyond the mere securing of resources toward the joint development of processing, localization, and technology supply chains. They added that financial and institutional mechanisms — such as green industrial complexes, joint investment funds, and ODA-linked models — should be established to encourage the participation of private companies.

❍ DOO Jin-ho, Director of Eurasia Research Center, Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said, "South Korea possesses advanced technology and experience in industrial development, while Central Asia has abundant resources, a young population, a growing market, and a strategic location for Eurasian connectivity," adding that "the two sides can develop a long-term partnership based on trust, technological cooperation, talent development, and people-to-people exchange that goes beyond individual projects."

❍ Ambassador Aida ISMAILOVA said, "The Korea-Central Asia Summit this September will be a turning point that sets new cooperation priorities and provides momentum for implementing joint projects," and that "cooperation between South Korea and Central Asia can serve as a model of a mutually beneficial partnership based on trust, respect, and shared interests."

❍ Ambassador Begench DURDYYEV explained, "Last year, trade between South Korea and Turkmenistan grew by 7 percent year on year, and 17 investment projects involving Korean companies, worth a combined total of more than US$12 billion, are currently under way," noting that "in education and culture, Korean-language departments, King Sejong Institutes, study in South Korea, culture weeks, joint performances, film festivals, and Taekwondo exchanges are broadening the foundation of bilateral relations."

❍ Ambassador KIROM Salohiddin said, "The mechanism most needed to turn South Korea's investment intentions into actual investment is a joint investment fund, which provides a stable investment base in which both governments and private companies can participate," adding that "linking the Official Development Assistance (ODA) mechanism with private investment is effective."

❍ Ambassador Alisher ABDUSALOMOV said, "Central Asia's natural gas, hydropower, and solar potential are complementary to South Korea's renewable energy, smart-grid, and hydrogen technologies, and Uzbekistan seeks to turn energy from a constraint into a core strength of national competitiveness," noting that "combining South Korea's innovation, Central Asia's resources, and a growing talent pool can build a resilient, future-oriented, and people-centered partnership."

❍ Ambassador Asset ISSENALI stressed, "Kazakhstan is committed to developing its strategic partnership with South Korea to a future-oriented and qualitatively higher level," noting that "Kazakhstan aims to become a fully digital nation within the next three years, a process that can open up significant opportunities for South Korean companies and institutions."

❍ BAIK Joohyeon, the former Korean ambassador to Kazakhstan, recommended, "Cooperation between South Korea and Central Asia should expand beyond existing resource and infrastructure cooperation to advanced industries such as AI, quantum computing, robotics, and drones, as well as the joint cultivation of industrial talent," adding that "the Korea-Central Asia Summit should serve as an occasion to review the past 30 years of cooperative projects and to firmly establish future plans.”