Foreign ministers from five Central Asian countries and Korean foreign minister participated in the 25th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum that was held at the Paradise Hotel in Haeundae District, Busan, the Republic of Korea, on October 25.
Chaired by Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, the forum was attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Media reports say the motto of the meeting was “Korea-Central Asia: a joint journey to a better future.”
According to the News Central Asia (nCa), about 200 delegates attended the forum, including representatives of the governments of Korea and five Central Asian countries, businessmen and private sector experts.
Opening the forum, Korean Minister Park Jin highly appreciated the steady development of friendship and cooperation in various fields over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the five Central Asian countries in 1992.
Park said that now, on the threshold of the beginning of a new 30th anniversary of cooperation, Korea and Central Asia are facing global shifts and challenges, such as climate change, digital inequality, health and economic security.
He also called on the countries of the region to provide support for the hosting of the global exhibition EXPO-2030 in Busan – the center of transport, logistics and culture in Northeast Asia.
The meeting participants agreed that the tourism sector is a promising area with great potential for cooperation between Korea and Central Asia. A special session on tourism was reportedly held, which featured tourist products offered by Korea and Central Asian countries.
In addition, top diplomats and experts from Central Asia’s nations and Korea discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy, digital technologies, economic security, and healthcare.
A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers outlined the diplomatic vision of the Korean government as a “global key country promoting freedom, peace and prosperity,” and also confirmed that Korea and the five Central Asian countries are important partners in strengthening cooperation, nCa reported on October 26.
The parties agreed to hold the 16th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in 2023 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
