(LEAD) S. Korean, Central Asian leaders agree to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, energy - Yonhap News Agency

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.

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