During the first 'Central Asia – Republic of Korea' summit held in Seoul, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined five key strategic directions to deepen cooperation. These areas include digital security, increasing trade turnover to $20 billion, joint processing of critical minerals, implementation of climate projects, and preparing youth for the demands of the technological economy.
Mirziyoyev called for the development of the concept 'Vision Central Asia – Republic of Korea: Partnership for Advanced Development,' noting that the pace of global changes often exceeds the capacity of states to adapt. Special attention was given to cybersecurity issues and the implementation of systems for timely detection of potential threats.
Development of Trade and Creation of Industrial Hubs
The second aspect of the proposal concerned the economic sphere and attracting investment. The President emphasized that Central Asia is no longer solely a supplier of raw materials. He proposed organizing meetings of ministers of industry and trade and set a goal to reach a trade volume with Korea of $20 billion by 2030. Furthermore, the opening of an Industrial-Technological Park named 'Central Asia – Korea' is planned in Uzbekistan.
Cooperation in Critical Minerals
The third direction focuses on interaction in the field of critical minerals. Mirziyoyev proposed establishing a Regional Investment Alliance that would cover the entire production cycle—from initial geological exploration to deep processing. According to the President, the region has the potential to become one of the world's leading suppliers of such resources.
Climate Partnership and Green Economy
The fourth item on the agenda was cooperation within green development and measures to adapt to climate change. Uzbekistan proposed launching a Climate and Carbon Partnership mechanism between Central Asia and Korea to consolidate the countries' resources for solving common climate problems.
Human Capital Development and the Role of Artificial Intelligence
The fifth direction is dedicated to human capital development. Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of the younger generation becoming an integral part of the modern technological economy. A partnership based on the principle of 'order – training – employment' was proposed. He also mentioned the role of artificial intelligence and suggested using the doctrine of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's 'Indispensable Korea' as a basis for AI development in the region.
In conclusion of the summit, Mirziyoyev announced Uzbekistan's intention to hold events next year dedicated to the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea and the 90th anniversary of the presence of the Korean diaspora in Central Asia. The Seoul Declaration and a number of documents defining priority vectors of cooperation were approved as a result of the summit. The summit was part of Mirziyoyev's state visit to South Korea, which took place from September 13 to 16. Prior to this, the President had addressed major Korean corporations, such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, and Lotte, with a proposal to shift from imports to creating fully localized high-tech production centers in Uzbekistan.
