Seoul Declaration sets 30-year Korea-Central Asia agenda on minerals, energy, AI

Korea and five Central Asian countries adopted the Seoul Declaration Wednesday at the inaugural multilateral summit in Seoul, elevating their partnership to leaders’ level and setting a 30-year cooperation agenda. The declaration covers supply chains, critical minerals, energy, trade and investment, emerging technologies and security. Kazakhstan said it was willing to host the second summit in Astana in 2028, and the other countries agreed. President Lee Jae Myung also urged a new Silk Road approach linking Korea with the region.

The framework began at the vice-ministerial level in 2007 and was elevated to the ministerial level in 2019 before reaching the leaders’ level now.

The declaration institutionalizes a biennial leaders’ summit and creates a C5+1 Industrial Ministers’ Consultative Mechanism.

The six countries said they were interested in developing joint value-added production chains by combining Central Asia’s resources with Korea’s advanced technologies.

Lee said Korea would send trade delegations to the region, support digital customs systems to reduce nontariff barriers and help establish Korea Desks in all five Central Asian countries.

Published Sep 16, 2026 5:43 pm KST

Updated Sep 16, 2026 5:53 pm KST

Lee proposes broader cooperation to build 'new Silk Road'

President Lee Jae Myung and Central Asian leaders attend the first Korea-Central Asia Business Summit at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. From left are President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Lee, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Yonhap

Korea and five Central Asian countries adopted the Seoul Declaration Wednesday, outlining a vision for cooperation over the next 30 years as they elevate their multilateral partnership to the leaders’ level.

Announced at the inaugural multilateral summit, the declaration institutionalizes a biennial leaders’ summit and sets out cooperation across four broad areas — partnership, peace, prosperity and people-to-people exchanges — to encompass supply chains, critical minerals, energy, trade and investment, emerging technologies and security.

The summit in Seoul brought together President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, representing the latest step in upgrading a cooperation framework that began at the vice-ministerial level in 2007 and was elevated to the ministerial level in 2019.

Korea, Central Asia to chart shared path at inaugural summit

1st multilateral summit elevates Korea-Central Asia cooperation to leaders’ level

Kazakhstan expressed its willingness to host the second summit in Astana in 2028, with the other participating countries agreeing to the proposal.

The declaration established a framework for more systematic economic cooperation, including a C5+1 Industrial Ministers’ Consultative Mechanism and industrial and supply chain cooperation.

On critical minerals, the six countries expressed interest in developing joint value-added production chains by combining Central Asia’s resources with Korea’s advanced technologies, while also strengthening cooperation in oil, gas, petrochemicals and energy infrastructure.

The declaration extends cooperation into artificial intelligence, digital transformation, science and technology, climate change and water resources.

The Central Asian leaders expressed support for Korea’s efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue and pursue peaceful coexistence, improved inter-Korean relations and phased denuclearization.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Business Summit at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. The event followed the inaugural multilateral summit between Korea and five Central Asian countries earlier in the day. Yonhap

In his opening remarks at the summit, Lee focused on the broader significance of the relationship, calling on Korea and Central Asia to use their historical ties as a foundation for the next three decades of cooperation.

“Building on the foundation of cooperation accumulated over the past 30 years, we must now prepare together for the next 30 years,” he said.

The president underscored a need for the "Silk Road spirit," noting that the world is undergoing a major transformation in which the economy and security are increasingly intertwined, from supply chains and energy to markets and technology.

Lee emphasized the significance of developing relations with Central Asia not only country by country but also as a region.

He also invoked the historical ties between the two regions, noting that ethnic Koreans in Central Asia have served as a bridge between Korea and the region for decades.

Later Wednesday, the president shifted his focus to practical economic cooperation at the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit, proposing what he described as a “new Silk Road” linking Korea and the region.

He outlined three major directions for building it, beginning with diversifying trade and investment beyond traditional areas.

Lee noted that current trade is heavily concentrated on Korean exports of automobiles and auto parts and imports of Central Asian energy and raw materials.

“We now need to move beyond these items and expand the scope of trade into new industries, including consumer goods, biotechnology and digital sectors,” he said.

He also said Seoul would send trade delegations to the region, support the establishment of digital customs systems to reduce nontariff barriers and the introduction of “Korea Desks” in all five Central Asian countries to help companies resolve difficulties they encounter locally.

Another pillar centers on linking Central Asia’s mineral resources with Korea’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.

“As global supply chains are being reorganized, Central Asia is emerging as a treasure trove of critical minerals essential for the production of electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors,” Lee noted.

He said combining the region’s lithium, uranium and other resources with Korea’s battery and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities could strengthen their position in global markets.

Lee called for cooperation across the entire critical-mineral value chain — from exploration and refining to high-value-added materials processing and finished-product production — rather than limiting ties to raw-material trade.

“If we walk together, the road from 1,500 years ago will reopen as a new Silk Road,” Lee said.

韩国与五个中亚国家周三在首尔举行的首届多边峰会上通过了《首尔宣言》，将三国伙伴关系提升至领导人层面，并制定了为期30年的合作议程。该宣言涵盖供应链、关键矿产、能源、贸易与投资、新兴技术和安全等领域。哈萨克斯坦表示愿意主办2028年在阿斯塔纳举行的第二次峰会，其他国家也表示同意。韩国总统李在明还呼吁建立连接韩国与该地区的“丝绸之路”新模式。

该框架于 2007 年在副部长级层面启动，2019 年提升至部长级，现在又提升至领导人级别。

该宣言将两年一次的领导人峰会制度化，并创建了C5+1产业部长磋商机制。

这六个国家表示，他们有兴趣将中亚的资源与韩国的先进技术相结合，发展联合增值生产链。

李表示，韩国将向该地区派遣贸易代表团，支持数字化海关系统以减少非关税壁垒，并帮助在所有五个中亚国家设立韩国办事处。

发布于2026年9月16日下午5:43（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月16日下午5:53（韩国标准时间）

李提议扩大合作，共建“新丝绸之路”。

韩国总统李在明周三在首尔一家酒店出席首届韩国-中亚商业峰会，并与中亚各国领导人会面。图中从左至右依次为：乌兹别克斯坦总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫、塔吉克斯坦总统埃莫马利·拉赫蒙、哈萨克斯坦总统卡西姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫、李在明、吉尔吉斯斯坦总统萨德尔·扎帕罗夫和土库曼斯坦总统谢尔达尔·别尔德穆哈梅多夫。（韩联社）

韩国和五个中亚国家周三通过了《首尔宣言》，概述了未来 30 年的合作愿景，并将多边伙伴关系提升到领导人层面。

该宣言在首届多边峰会上宣布，将每两年一次的领导人峰会制度化，并制定了在伙伴关系、和平、繁荣和民间交流四大领域的合作，涵盖供应链、关键矿产、能源、贸易和投资、新兴技术和安全。

在首尔举行的峰会上，李在明总统与哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦和乌兹别克斯坦的领导人齐聚一堂，这标志着中日韩合作框架升级的最新进展。该框架于 2007 年从副部长级开始，并于 2019 年提升至部长级。

韩国和中亚将在首届峰会上探讨共同发展道路

首次多边峰会将韩国与中亚的合作提升至领导人层面

哈萨克斯坦表示愿意在 2028 年于阿斯塔纳主办第二届峰会，其他与会国也同意这一提议。

该宣言确立了更加系统的经济合作框架，包括C5+1产业部长磋商机制以及产业和供应链合作。

在关键矿产方面，这六个国家表示有兴趣将中亚的资源与韩国的先进技术相结合，发展联合增值生产链，同时加强在石油、天然气、石化和能源基础设施领域的合作。

该宣言将合作范围扩大到人工智能、数字化转型、科学技术、气候变化和水资源等领域。

中亚领导人表示支持韩国为恢复韩朝对话、追求和平共处、改善韩朝关系和分阶段实现无核化所做的努力。

周三，韩国总统李在明在首尔一家酒店举行的首届韩国-中亚商业峰会上发表讲话。此前一天，韩国与五个中亚国家举行了首次多边峰会。（韩联社）

李在峰会开幕致辞中强调了这一关系的更广泛意义，呼吁韩国和中亚以历史渊源为基础，开展未来三十年的合作。

他说：“在过去30年积累的合作基础上，我们现在必须共同为下一个30年做好准备。”

总统强调了“丝绸之路精神”的必要性，并指出世界正在经历一场重大变革，经济和安全日益交织在一起，从供应链和能源到市场和技术，无一例外。

李强调，发展与中亚国家的关系不仅要逐个国家地发展，还要作为一个区域发展。

他还提及了这两个地区之间的历史联系，指出中亚的朝鲜族人几十年来一直是韩国与该地区之间的桥梁。

周三晚些时候，总统在韩国-中亚商业峰会上将重点转向务实的经济合作，提出了他所谓的连接韩国和该地区的“新丝绸之路”。

他概述了建设该经济体的三个主要方向，首先是将贸易和投资多元化到传统领域之外。

李指出，目前的贸易严重集中在韩国出口汽车及汽车零部件，以及进口中亚能源和原材料。

他说：“我们现在需要超越这些商品，将贸易范围扩大到新的行业，包括消费品、生物技术和数字领域。”

他还表示，首尔将向该地区派遣贸易代表团，支持建立数字海关系统以减少非关税壁垒，并在所有五个中亚国家设立“韩国服务台”，以帮助企业解决在当地遇到的困难。

另一大支柱是将中亚的矿产资源与韩国的先进制造业能力联系起来。

李指出：“随着全球供应链的重组，中亚正在成为电动汽车、电池和半导体生产所必需的关键矿产的宝库。”

他表示，将该地区锂、铀和其他资源与韩国的电池和半导体制造能力相结合，可以加强它们在全球市场中的地位。

李呼吁在整个关键矿产价值链上开展合作——从勘探和提炼到高附加值材料加工和成品生产——而不是将联系局限于原材料贸易。

李说：“如果我们携手并进，1500年前的道路将重新开放，成为一条新的丝绸之路。”