S. Korea, Central Asia seek new path beyond Silk Road, deepen ties in AI, critical minerals: FM

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday called for deeper cooperation with Central Asia, highlighting the potential to build a stronger partnership in strategic resources, supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI) and other future-oriented fields.

Cho made the call in a contribution to Yonhap News Agency ahead of the first Korea-Central Asia summit set for Wednesday, where leaders from South Korea and the five Central Asian countries -- Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan -- will discuss ways to enhance partnership for shared prosperity.

This file photo taken May 29, 2026, shows Foreign Minister Cho Hyun having an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul. (Yonhap)

"The Korea-Central Asia Summit, the first such leaders meeting to take place, is expected to serve as a valuable foundation for the next thirty years ahead with the accumulated reciprocal trust and combined efforts of the past three decades as a firm basis," Cho wrote.

South Korea established diplomatic relations with the five Central Asian countries in 1992. It launched the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in 2007, before such major nations as the United States and China, as well as the European Union, stepped up regional cooperation with Central Asia, and elevated the forum to the ministerial level in 2019.

Trade between South Korea and the five Central Asian countries exceeded US$10 billion for the first time last year and has expanded beyond consumer goods into supply chains and high-tech industries, Cho said.

"With the Republic of Korea having a tremendous manufacturing industry and technological capability, and Central Asian countries having bountiful resources and growing markets, they will be able to emerge as optimum partners in terms of meeting each other's needs," Cho wrote.

"At this Summit, through an established cooperative framework in various fields such as critical minerals, supply chains, and AI, the diversification of the Korea-Central Asia teamwork will gain momentum," Cho wrote, stressing the importance of such cooperation amid a fast-changing global security environment.

The minister also called for expanding cooperation into other future-oriented areas, including digital transformation and climate change response, saying the two sides could create new opportunities for shared growth by combining their strengths in digital technology and green industries.

The first Korea-Central Asia Industry Ministers' Meeting is held in central Seoul on Sept. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

Cho also highlighted the strategic importance of ties with Central Asia for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, saying the five countries have supported the denuclearization of the peninsula and South Korea's position on peace and stability.

"Considering that the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Central Asia are the very basis for the co-prosperity of Eurasia, South Korea is sincerely striving to continue this cooperative approach," he wrote.

People-to-people ties are another important pillar of cooperation, with some 310,000 Koryo-saram, or ethnic Koreans, living in Central Asia, about 5,000 Korean businesspeople and overseas Koreans in the region, and approximately 150,000 Central Asian students and industrial workers in South Korea.

"When people connect and cultures interact, the ties can transform from ones that were ad-hoc into lasting bonds that are truly enduring," Cho said.

Invoking the history of the Silk Road, the minister said South Korea and Central Asia are now forging a new path based on "affinity and technology, people and culture, and the vision embraced for a shared future."

"The Republic of Korea and Central Asia are once again traveling a path, going beyond the Silk Road and stepping forward to embrace the promise of the future together," he wrote.

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

Seoul to hold 1st Central Asia summit, discuss critical minerals, supply chain cooperation

(Yonhap Interview) Kazakhstan seeks to deepen economic ties with S. Korea beyond autos into high-tech, key minerals

(LEAD) S. Korean president says hopes to deepen strategic partnership with Uzbekistan

(LEAD) Philippine defense chief slams China over audience note on South China Sea at Seoul forum

Son Ye-jin returns to historical drama in remake of 'The Scandal'

Badminton star An Se-young determined to enjoy herself in Asian Games title defense

(Movie Review) 'The Intern': charming leads shine in feel-good Korean remake with little edge

(News Focus) S. Korea faces high-stakes decision on potential Hormuz Strait deployment

S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level defense talks amid Hormuz deployment consideration

(3rd LD) N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

(LEAD) N. Korea reports latest missile launches, calling it strike drill

U.S. judge blocks Trump's move to limit duration of stay for foreign students, journalists: report

S. Korea condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, calls for immediate halt

N. Korean army's joint firepower attack drill

Uzbek president arrives in S. Korea

Men's nat'l football coach Moreno

S. Korea-Central Asia industry ministers' meeting

S. Korea, Central Asia seek new path beyond Silk Road, deepen ties in AI, critical minerals: FM

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月15日（韩联社）——韩国外交部长赵显铉周二呼吁深化与中亚的合作，强调在战略资源、供应链、人工智能（AI）和其他面向未来的领域建立更紧密伙伴关系的潜力。

在韩国与中亚五国（乌兹别克斯坦、哈萨克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦和塔吉克斯坦）领导人将于周三举行首次韩国-中亚峰会之际，赵在接受韩联社采访时发出这一呼吁。届时，韩国领导人将与中亚五国领导人讨论如何加强伙伴关系，实现共同繁荣。

这张摄于2026年5月29日的资料照片显示，韩国外交部长赵显铉在首尔接受韩联社独家专访。（韩联社）

赵写道：“作为首次此类领导人会议，韩国-中亚峰会有望为未来三十年奠定宝贵的基础，过去三十年积累的互信和共同努力将作为坚实的基础。”

韩国于 1992 年与中亚五国建立外交关系。2007 年，韩国率先成立了韩国—中亚合作论坛，早于美国、中国以及欧盟等主要国家加强与中亚的区域合作，并于 2019 年将该论坛提升至部长级。

赵表示，去年韩国与中亚五国之间的贸易额首次超过100亿美元，并且已从消费品扩展到供应链和高科技产业。

“韩国拥有强大的制造业和技术能力，而中亚国家拥有丰富的资源和不断增长的市场，两国将能够成为满足彼此需求的最佳合作伙伴，”赵写道。

“在本次峰会上，通过在关键矿产、供应链和人工智能等各个领域已建立的合作框架，韩国与中亚团队合作的多元化将获得发展动力，”赵显龙写道，并强调了在全球安全环境快速变化的情况下，这种合作的重要性。

该部长还呼吁将合作扩展到其他面向未来的领域，包括数字化转型和应对气候变化，并表示双方可以通过结合在数字技术和绿色产业方面的优势，创造共同增长的新机遇。

首届韩国—中亚产业部长会议将于2026年9月14日在首尔市中心举行。（韩联社）

赵显龙还强调了与中亚保持联系对朝鲜半岛和平稳定的战略重要性，称这五个国家支持朝鲜半岛无核化以及韩国在和平稳定问题上的立场。

他写道：“考虑到朝鲜半岛和中亚的和平稳定是欧亚大陆共同繁荣的基础，韩国真诚地努力继续采取这种合作方式。”

民间关系是合作的另一个重要支柱，约有 31 万高丽人（朝鲜族）生活在中亚，约有 5000 名韩国商人和海外韩国人在该地区，约有 15 万中亚学生和产业工人在韩国。

“当人们相互联系、文化相互交流时，原本临时的联系就能转变为真正持久的纽带，”赵说。

这位部长援引丝绸之路的历史表示，韩国和中亚现在正在基于“亲缘关系和技术、人民和文化以及对共同未来的愿景”开辟一条新道路。

他写道：“大韩民国和中亚地区再次踏上一条超越丝绸之路的道路，携手迈向充满希望的未来。”

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

首尔将举办首届中亚峰会，讨论关键矿产和供应链合作等议题。

（韩联社采访）哈萨克斯坦寻求深化与韩国的经济联系，从汽车领域拓展到高科技和关键矿产领域。

（导语）韩国总统表示希望深化与乌兹别克斯坦的战略伙伴关系

（导语）菲律宾国防部长抨击中国在首尔论坛上就南海问题发表的发言。

孙艺珍回归古装剧​​，翻拍《绯闻》

羽毛球明星安世荣决心在亚运会卫冕战中尽情享受比赛。

（影评）《实习生》：魅力十足的主演在这部轻松愉快的韩国翻拍片中大放异彩，影片略显平淡。

（新闻焦点）韩国面临是否在霍尔木兹海峡部署武器的高风险决定。

韩国和美国将在考虑部署霍尔木兹号卫星系统之际举行高级别防务会谈

（第三份报告）朝鲜向东海发射多枚短程弹道导弹：联合参谋本部

（导语）朝鲜报告最新导弹发射，称其为打击演习。

据报道，美国法官阻止了特朗普限制外国学生和记者在美停留时间的举措。

韩国谴责胡塞武装对沙特阿拉伯的袭击，呼吁立即停止袭击

朝鲜人民军联合火力攻击演习

乌兹别克斯坦总统抵达韩国

男子国家足球队教练莫雷诺

韩国—中亚产业部长会议

韩国和中亚寻求丝绸之路以外的新发展道路，深化在人工智能和关键矿产领域的合作：外交部长