(2nd LD) S. Korean, Central Asian leaders agree to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, energy

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

(ATTN: UPDATES with dinner banquet, remarks in last 3 paras; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung and his counterparts from five Central Asian countries agreed Wednesday to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in critical minerals, energy and other areas as the regions seek to significantly strengthen their partnership.

The agreement was reached at the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit held in Seoul, which was attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to discuss ways to enhance cooperation.

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

During the summit, Lee said cooperation between the two regions should go beyond seeking individual projects and infrastructure construction to reach the level of jointly nurturing industrial capabilities and value chains, presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong said.

Lee, in particular, proposed jointly building "mutually beneficial value chains" by combining the Central Asian nations' strengths in critical minerals, energy, and agricultural and dairy industries with South Korea's technology, saying this will help the countries create jobs while expanding their supply chains.

Based on the proposal, South Korea and the Central Asian nations signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in industries and supply chains to deepen mutually beneficial collaboration in areas ranging from industrial policies, manufacturing and infrastructure to critical minerals, energy and the digital transition, Seong noted.

The leaders also launched a consultative body among the countries' industrial ministers to implement their agreement, the presidential secretary said.

Lee stressed that Central Asian countries are optimal partners for South Korea seeking to diversify export markets and supply chains amid fast-changing global security and economic environments, as the region is home to rich natural resources and growing markets.

President Lee Jae Myung (3rd from R) poses for a photo with the presidents of five Central Asian nations during the South Korea-Central Asia Summit in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

The South Korean president proposed combining South Korea's manufacturing capabilities and technologies with Central Asia's push for industrial development to deepen cooperation in a way that meets their respective interests.

The leaders of the five Central Asian countries hailed the summit as laying the foundation for summit-level discussion on cooperation between the two regions, expressing hope to strategically deepen cooperation with South Korea, Seong said.

The leaders also adopted the Seoul Declaration outlining their agreements and visions for cooperation, the presidential secretary said, describing it as a "new landmark" that will open a new three decades of cooperation between South Korea and Central Asia.

Additionally, the leaders adopted an initiative calling for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and science, with Lee calling for efforts to jointly utilize opportunities from the emergence of AI and technological innovations.

While outlining Seoul's efforts to resolve North Korea's nuclear issues, restore inter-Korea dialogue and replace the Korean armistice with a peace regime, Lee asked for the five countries' support for such efforts.

At the opening of the summit, Lee highlighted what he called the spirit of the Silk Road that once bound the East and West through exchanges.

"Today, the world is ushering in a new era of upheaval in which the economy, including supply chains, energy, markets and technology, and security are closely interconnected," Lee said.

At a time like this, "the 'Silk Road spirit' of Central Asia that connected people, technologies and cultures of the East and West as one is needed more than ever," he insisted. "Based on the foundation of cooperation built over the past three decades, we should prepare for another three decades together."

"The respective strengths of South Korea and Central Asia will provide unlimited opportunities to jointly address our respective challenges," Lee said, adding that by working together, they could accelerate the pursuit of mutual prosperity.

The presidential secretary also quoted Lee as describing the summit as the "new starting point" for future partnerships and asking the visiting leaders to meet again in Kazakhstan two years later.

Seong said that the summit is expected to serve as a turning point for South Korea to turn its long-running ties with Central Asia into a future-oriented partnership and expand its diplomatic outreach into Eurasia.

During a dinner banquet with the leaders of the five countries, Lee pledged to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and Central Asia.

"The 'Silk Road of the future,' which we will race along, will connect energy, advanced technologies, companies and markets into one, and open a new road of hope and dreams for the youth of our countries," he said.

The banquet featured dishes that combined Korean and Central Asian cuisine, including shashlik, or skewered meat, made with Korean beef, and carrot kimchi, enjoyed by ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, known as Koryoin.

President Lee Jae Myung (C) claps as he attends the official dinner banquet of the South Korea-Central Asia Summit at a hotel in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

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

(LEAD) Leaders of S. Korea, Tajikistan agree to forge comprehensive partnership

S. Korean president says Kyrgyzstan a solid partner, calls for expanded exchanges

S. Korea, Turkmenistan sign investment protection agreement

S. Korea, Kazakhstan elevate ties, agree to boost cooperation in crude oil, nuclear power

S. Korea, Uzbekistan discuss cultural cooperation in ministerial meeting

(LEAD) Lee thanks Turkmenistan for helping evacuate S. Koreans from Iran

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

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

(LEAD) Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Grand Jury Prize at Venice film fest

(2nd LD) Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Grand Jury Prize at Venice film fest

(News Focus) Lee Chang-dong: Korean maestro whose profound cinematic gaze captures human dignity

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

Over 300 S. Korean workers challenging Trump gov't over last year's immigration raid in Georgia: CNN

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

(2nd LD) Gender minister nominee withdraws from consideration amid mounting controversy

(LEAD) S. Korean, U.S. FMs to meet this week amid investment deals, Hormuz discussions

N. Korea's vice defense minister attends Chinese defense forum

Trump says countries that have been 'no help' should reimburse U.S. when Iran war ends

Lee calls for renewed spirit of 'Silk Road' to bind East with West at Central Asia Summit

Chinese delegation of youth cadres in N. Korea

N. Korea's defense delegation to int'l forum in Beijing

N. Korea ordered to pay 44.6 bln won over liaison office demolition

S. Korea-Jordan basketball match at Asian Games

(2nd LD) S. Korean, Central Asian leaders agree to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, energy

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。

（注意：更新内容包括晚宴，最后三段有补充说明；添加照片）

首尔，9月16日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明与中亚五国领导人周三达成一致，将深化在关键矿产、能源和其他领域的互利合作，以期大幅加强该地区的伙伴关系。

该协议是在首尔举行的首届韩国-中亚峰会上达成的，哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦和塔吉克斯坦的总统出席了峰会，讨论加强合作的方式。

2026年9月16日，韩国总统李在明在首尔举行的韩国—中亚峰会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

总统府公共关系秘书成基洪表示，李明博在峰会上表示，两地合作应超越寻求个别项目和基础设施建设，达到共同培育产业能力和价值链的水平。

李特别提议，将中亚各国在关键矿产、能源、农业和乳制品行业的优势与韩国的技术相结合，共同构建“互利共赢的价值链”，他表示，这将有助于这些国家创造就业机会，同时扩大其供应链。

Seong指出，根据该提议，韩国和中亚国家签署了关于产业和供应链合作的谅解备忘录，以深化从产业政策、制造业和基础设施到关键矿产、能源和数字化转型等领域的互利合作。

总统秘书表示，两国领导人还成立了一个由各国工业部长组成的磋商机构，以落实双方达成的协议。

李强调，在瞬息万变的全球安全和经济环境下，中亚国家是韩国寻求出口市场和供应链多元化的最佳合作伙伴，因为该地区拥有丰富的自然资源和不断增长的市场。

2026年9月16日，韩国总统李在明（右三）在首尔举行的韩国—中亚峰会上与五位中亚国家元首合影。（韩联社）

韩国总统提议将韩国的制造业能力和技术与中亚推动工业发展的努力相结合，以深化合作，从而满足双方各自的利益。

成表示，中亚五国领导人称赞此次峰会为两国开展峰会级别的合作讨论奠定了基础，并表示希望从战略上深化与韩国的合作。

总统秘书表示，两国领导人还通过了《首尔宣言》，概述了双方在合作方面的协议和愿景，并称其为“新的里程碑”，将开启韩国与中亚之间新的三十年合作。

此外，两国领导人还通过了一项倡议，呼吁在人工智能（AI）和科学领域开展合作。李光耀呼吁各方共同努力，利用人工智能和技术创新带来的机遇。

李在概述首尔为解决朝鲜核问题、恢复朝韩对话以及以和平机制取代朝鲜停战协定所做的努力时，请求五国支持这些努力。

在峰会开幕式上，李显龙强调了他所谓的丝绸之路精神，这种精神曾经通过交流将东西方联系在一起。

李说：“今天，世界正迎来一个动荡的新时代，经济（包括供应链）、能源、市场和技术以及安全都紧密相连。”

他强调，在当今时代，“连接东西方人民、技术和文化的‘丝绸之路精神’比以往任何时候都更加重要”。“基于过去三十年建立的合作基础，我们应该携手共创下一个三十年。”

李表示：“韩国和中亚各自的优势将为共同应对我们各自的挑战提供无限机遇。”他还补充说，通过合作，他们可以加快追求共同繁荣的步伐。

总统秘书还援引李的话说，这次峰会是未来伙伴关系的“新起点”，并邀请来访的领导人两年后在哈萨克斯坦再次会面。

成表示，此次峰会有望成为韩国将与中亚的长期关系转变为面向未来的伙伴关系，并扩大其在欧亚大陆的外交影响力的转折点。

在与五国领导人共进晚餐的宴会上，李明博承诺加强韩国与中亚地区的合作。

他说：“我们将沿着‘未来的丝绸之路’飞驰，这条道路将把能源、先进技术、企业和市场连接起来，为我们国家的青年开辟一条充满希望和梦想的新道路。”

宴会上的菜肴融合了韩国和中亚美食，包括用韩国牛肉制成的烤肉串（shashlik）和中亚朝鲜族人（高丽人）喜爱的胡萝卜泡菜。

2026年9月16日，韩国总统李在明（中）在首尔一家酒店出席韩国—中亚峰会正式晚宴时鼓掌。（韩联社）

2026年9月16日，韩国总统李在明（右）在首尔举行的韩国—中亚峰会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

（导语）韩国和塔吉克斯坦领导人同意建立全面伙伴关系

韩国总统称吉尔吉斯斯坦是可靠的合作伙伴，并呼吁扩大两国交流。

韩国与土库曼斯坦签署投资保护协议

韩国与哈萨克斯坦提升关系，同意加强在原油和核能领域的合作

韩国和乌兹别克斯坦在部长级会议上讨论文化合作

（导语）李感谢土库曼斯坦帮助韩国人从伊朗撤离

（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。

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。

（导语）李沧东执导的《可能的爱》荣获威尼斯电影节评审团大奖

（第二条）李沧东执导的《可能的爱》荣获威尼斯电影节评审团大奖

（新闻焦点）李沧东：这位韩国电影大师以其深邃的电影视角捕捉人类尊严

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

超过300名韩国工人就去年在佐治亚州的移民突袭事件向特朗普政府提出质疑：CNN

（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

（第二轮投票）性别平等部长提名人选因争议不断而退出竞选

（导语）韩美外长本周将举行会晤，讨论投资协议和霍尔木兹海峡协议。

朝鲜国防部副部长出席中国防务论坛

特朗普表示，那些“没有提供任何帮助”的国家应该在伊朗战争结束后向美国偿还费用。

李在中亚峰会上呼吁重振“丝绸之路”精神，连接东西方。

中国青年干部代表团在朝鲜

朝鲜国防代表团出席北京国际论坛

朝鲜被勒令因拆除联络办公室赔偿446亿韩元

亚运会韩国对约旦篮球比赛

（第二项议程）韩国和中亚领导人同意深化在关键矿产和能源领域的合作