Organized by the Korean Association of Eurasian Studies and the Eurasia Institute at Hanshin University, the conference brought together representatives of the academic and expert communities of the Republic of Korea and Central Asian countries to discuss prospects for advancing interregional cooperation.
In his remarks, titled “Beyond Bilateralism: The Regional Dimension of Korea–Uzbekistan Cooperation,” Javlon Vakhabov highlighted the significance of holding the first summit in the year marking the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Central Asian states.
He emphasized that throughout this period, the Republic of Korea has consistently built relations with the countries of the region based on respect for their independence, sovereignty, and national priorities, becoming an important and reliable partner for Central Asia in economic modernization, technology, education, and human capital development.
Particular attention was given to the long-term nature of Seoul’s regional approach. As early as 2007, the Republic of Korea launched the Korea–Central Asia Cooperation Forum, well before the current system of regular meetings among Central Asian leaders took shape. A permanent Secretariat of the Forum was established in 2017, while the K-Silk Road initiative, unveiled in 2024, added a new strategic dimension to the partnership.
According to the IICA Director, the upcoming summit therefore represents more than simply elevating the existing format from the ministerial to the highest political level. It is taking place in a fundamentally transformed regional environment.
“The Central Asia with which the Republic of Korea is holding its first summit today is substantially different from the region with which Seoul began a structured dialogue nearly two decades ago,” Javlon Vakhabov stressed.
It is particularly symbolic that the forthcoming summit in Seoul coincides with the tenth anniversary of the policy of good-neighborliness in Central Asia initiated by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2016.
The speaker noted that in recent years, the Central Asian states have significantly strengthened mutual trust, resolved a number of their most complex border issues, expanded trade and economic ties, and begun implementing major joint infrastructure and energy projects.
Against this backdrop, Javlon Vakhabov said, the role of the “Central Asia Plus” formats is also changing qualitatively. Today, the region participates in 12 such mechanisms involving nearly 40 countries and two regional organizations, which together account for approximately 75 percent of global GDP.
At the same time, Central Asia’s expanding external engagement should not be viewed exclusively through the lens of competition among major powers. For the countries of the region, it is primarily about expanding their strategic options – attracting investment and technology, diversifying markets, developing human capital, and creating new transport links to the global economy.
In this context, the Republic of Korea – with its unique experience in technological and industrial modernization and its position as one of the leading economies of the OECD and the Group of Twenty – is well placed to play an important role in Central Asia’s next stage of development.
The most promising areas for regional cooperation were identified as critical minerals and the development of high-value-added production chains, transport and logistics, digital interoperability, official development assistance, and the training of engineering and technical specialists.
It was emphasized that Korea’s interest in securing reliable supplies of raw materials for its semiconductor, battery, automotive, and other high-technology industries aligns with the Central Asian countries’ ambition to move beyond the simple export of raw materials toward deeper domestic processing.
In this regard, a promising model would encompass the entire value chain – from geological exploration and the digitalization of geological data to processing, certification, and long-term supply agreements with Korean industrial companies.
A similar regional impact could be achieved in transportation. According to the IICA Director, the effectiveness of new railways and transit corridors will depend not only on infrastructure construction, but also on the interoperability of customs procedures, electronic documentation, cargo-tracking systems, technical standards, and information exchange.
The region’s economies continue to face high transportation costs and differences in customs regulations and technical standards. The task, therefore, is not to mechanically extend bilateral projects to all five countries, but to identify the areas in which regional interoperability can generate genuine additional economic value.
The important role of Korean official development assistance was also highlighted. The resources of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), and other Korean instruments could be used more actively to finance elements of regional integration that often fall outside the scope of commercial funding. These include feasibility studies, digital systems, institutional reforms, professional training, and the development of regionally compatible standards.
At this stage, however, the regional impact remains limited. In 2025, trade between the Republic of Korea and the five Central Asian states exceeded $10 billion for the first time, yet the region still accounts for less than 1 percent of Seoul’s total foreign trade.
Javlon Vakhabov also stressed that regional cooperation should not replace successful bilateral ties. It should be pursued primarily in areas where economic efficiency directly depends on the participation of several countries, including transport corridors, industrial and mineral supply chains, interoperable digital and technical systems, and the training of specialized personnel.
In conclusion, the IICA Director noted that the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit presents an opportunity to move beyond nearly two decades of institutional dialogue and enter a new stage of more practical, technology-driven, and mutually beneficial regional partnership.
Combining Central Asia’s growing potential for regional cooperation with the Republic of Korea’s technology, knowledge, and experience can bring a new quality to the relationship and ensure its long-term resilience.
