Series of business roundtables raises hopes for deeper ties; 'combining technology and resources'

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrive at the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum at The Grand Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrive at the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum at The Grand Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook held a series of business roundtables Tuesday with the presidents of three Central Asian countries visiting Seoul for the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, the Prime Minister's Office said, with discussions focused on expanding cooperation.

At the first roundtable, held in the afternoon at The Grand Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Han described Kazakhstan as "South Korea's largest trading partner in Central Asia and a key investment partner."

She called for deeper cooperation in building strategic supply chains for critical minerals and energy, leading future industries through AI and digital transformation, and expanding youth innovation ecosystems. "We must open a new path toward advanced future technologies and innovation," she said.

At the session with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Han said combining the two countries' strengths would yield strong results. "If Uzbekistan's abundant resources, young and talented workforce, and strong drive for reform and innovation are paired with South Korea's technology and capital, the future of both countries will be far more secure," she said.

She urged both sides to use cooperation memorandums of understanding to transform manufacturing through AI and digital technology while jointly developing skilled workers. Han also called for building a critical minerals cooperation platform that would link South Korea's mineral processing and materials technology with Uzbekistan's industrial upgrading to create a shared critical minerals supply chain.

At the final roundtable, with Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Han said she hoped to broaden cooperation into petrochemicals and the water industry to contribute to Turkmenistan's industrial advancement.

"I expect the cooperation that began with cargo ship construction to expand into modernizing Caspian Sea ports, eco-friendly transportation and smart logistics, and for South Korea's digital technology to be applied to smart city development as well," she added.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com