(LEAD) Lee calls for trade diversification with Central Asia, cooperation on critical minerals

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SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for efforts to diversify trade between South Korea and Central Asia into advanced industries, including digital technology, and to combine the region's rich mineral resources with South Korea's manufacturing prowess to lead the global market.

The South Korean president outlined the vision at the South Korea-Central Asia Business Summit in Seoul, aimed at deepening economic cooperation with five Central Asian countries -- Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

The event came shortly after Lee hosted the presidents of the five countries in an inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit, where the countries sought to diversify global supply chains by leveraging the Central Asian region's rich reserves of critical minerals and energy resources, and South Korea's exploration and processing skills.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit 2026 in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee first called for diversifying trade between South Korea and Central Asia, which is currently concentrated on South Korea's auto and components exports, and imports of energy and raw materials, into new areas, including consumer goods, bio and digital technologies, and other advanced industries.

To that end, Seoul will spare no effort and establish digital systems to lower customs barriers and streamline customs clearance, the South Korean president said, hailing the five countries' decisions to establish "Korean desks" within their governments to address issues involving Korean companies operating in their respective countries.

Lee also urged the establishment of cooperative frameworks for the critical minerals sector and advanced manufacturing, saying Central Asia's rich reserves of critical minerals are becoming increasingly important amid ongoing shifts in global supply chains, as they are critical to the manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors.

"If Central Asia's rich mineral resources, such as lithium and uranium, meet our manufacturing capabilities for batteries and semiconductors, we can together lead the global market," Lee told the business summit.

He said bilateral cooperation should involve not only trade in raw materials, but also the entire critical minerals cycle, from exploration to refining, processing and production.

The South Korean president pledged that Seoul will also serve as a trustworthy partner in building future infrastructure in Central Asia, which is speeding up infrastructure modernization, including urban development, high-speed trains and electricity networks.

"If South Korea joins hands with these five countries and share wisdom, we can accomplish anything together," he said.

President Lee Jae Myung (3rd from R) and the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan listen as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit 2026 in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

The summit, also attended by the presidents of the five Central Asian countries, brought together more than 500 government officials and business leaders from the participating countries, including executives from Samsung Electronics Co., POSCO and Hyundai Motor Co.

During the event's two sessions, participants shared views on the potential of various markets and prospective business opportunities, and discussed ways to help companies expand into each other's markets, Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, said.

Ahead of the event, a total of 19 memorandums of understanding were signed between companies, including Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics Inc., outlining strategic partnerships between the two regions and laying the foundation for helping South Korean firms expand into Central Asian markets, Seong said.

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(LEAD) Lee calls for trade diversification with Central Asia, cooperation on critical minerals

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首尔，9月16日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周三呼吁努力使韩国与中亚之间的贸易多元化发展，转向包括数字技术在内的先进产业，并将该地区丰富的矿产资源与韩国的制造业实力相结合，以引领全球市场。

韩国总统在首尔举行的韩国—中亚商业峰会上概述了这一愿景，旨在深化与五个中亚国家——吉尔吉斯斯坦、哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦和塔吉克斯坦——的经济合作。

此次事件发生不久前，李明博主持召开了首届韩国-中亚峰会，五国总统出席了会议。在峰会上，各国寻求利用中亚地区丰富的关键矿产和能源资源储备以及韩国的勘探和加工技术，实现全球供应链多元化。

2026年9月16日，韩国总统李在明在首尔举行的2026年韩国-中亚商业峰会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

李首先呼吁韩国与中亚之间的贸易多元化，目前韩国与中亚的贸易主要集中在韩国的汽车及零部件出口和能源及原材料进口，应拓展到消费品、生物和数字技术以及其他先进产业等新领域。

为此，韩国总统表示，首尔将不遗余力地建立数字化系统，以降低海关壁垒，简化海关清关流程。他还赞扬了这五个国家决定在其政府内部设立“韩国事务处”，以解决涉及在其各自国家运营的韩国公司的问题。

李还敦促建立关键矿产行业和先进制造业的合作框架，他表示，随着全球供应链的不断变化，中亚丰富的关键矿产储量变得越来越重要，因为它们对电动汽车、电池和半导体的制造至关重要。

李在商业峰会上表示：“如果中亚丰富的矿产资源，如锂和铀，能够满足我们电池和半导体制造能力的需求，我们就可以共同引领全球市场。”

他表示，双边合作不仅应包括原材料贸易，还应包括从勘探到提炼、加工和生产的整个关键矿产循环。

韩国总统承诺，首尔也将成为中亚未来基础设施建设中值得信赖的合作伙伴，加快中亚基础设施现代化进程，包括城市发展、高速铁路和电网建设。

他说：“如果韩国与这五个国家携手合作，分享智慧，我们就能共同成就任何事。”

2026年9月16日，在首尔举行的2026年韩国-中亚商业峰会上，韩国总统李在明（右三）与吉尔吉斯斯坦、哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦和塔吉克斯坦总统聆听SK集团会长崔泰源的讲话。（韩联社）

此次峰会还邀请了中亚五国总统出席，汇聚了来自参与国的 500 多名政府官员和商界领袖，其中包括三星电子、浦项制铁和现代汽车公司的高管。

总统府公共关系和传播高级秘书成基洪表示，在本次活动的两场会议中，与会者分享了对各个市场的潜力和未来商机的看法，并讨论了如何帮助企业拓展到彼此的市场。

Seong表示，在活动举办前，包括现代汽车和LG电子在内的多家公司共签署了19份谅解备忘录，概述了这两个地区之间的战略伙伴关系，并为帮助韩国企业拓展中亚市场奠定了基础。

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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。

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