Central Asia and the Republic of Korea Agree on New Priorities for Industrial and Environmental Cooperation

The first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit took place in Seoul on 16 September 2026. President Lee Jae Myung hosted the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov; Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov; and Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Discussions focused on industrial partnerships, critical minerals processing, energy, transport and digital technologies. Leaders explored ways to combine Central Asia’s resource and production capacity with Korean technology, develop transport corridors and establish joint industrial ventures.

The summit adopted the Seoul Declaration, alongside initiatives on artificial intelligence, science and technology, and on climate, energy transition and air quality. A memorandum on industrial and logistics cooperation and a joint statement of the first business summit were also signed.

The summit programme included bilateral meetings between President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of all five Central Asian countries:

• Kazakhstan. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Lee Jae Myung discussed energy and technological cooperation on 15 September. The countries signed 13 documents, including a memorandum on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and documents covering crude oil and scientific and technological cooperation.

• Uzbekistan. Talks between Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Lee Jae Myung on 14 September were followed by an exchange of signed documents. These cover transport, aviation, agriculture, artificial intelligence, education, environmental protection and climate action.

• Kyrgyzstan. Sadyr Japarov met with the Korean president on 16 September. The countries signed 18 agreements and memorandums supporting trade, investment, infrastructure cooperation and exchanges between their peoples. The leaders also discussed AI, climate challenges and natural disaster response.

• Tajikistan. Emomali Rahmon and Lee Jae Myung established a comprehensive partnership during their talks on 16 September. The countries signed 17 agreements and memorandums covering railway infrastructure, industry, smart grids, forest restoration, education and other areas.

• Turkmenistan. Talks on 15 September resulted in an investment promotion and protection agreement, alongside documents on the chemical industry, infrastructure, rail transport, water resource management, and digital forest restoration and climate cooperation.

The leaders agreed to continue cooperation through regular meetings. Kazakhstan is expected to host the next summit in 2028.