Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – South Korea recognizes the strategic importance of Central Asia. This was stated by Secretary of the President of the Republic of Korea for Economic Security Wang Yun Jong, delivering a welcoming speech at the expert forum “Strategic Dialogue Central Asia - Republic of Korea: Prospects for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”, which takes place on 11 December in Tashkent.

According to him, Central Asia, located in the heart of Asia, is a key transport and logistics hub between Asia and Europe, as well as a key security point.

Wang Yun Jong emphasized that as part of the implementation of the national goal of the Yoon Seok-yeol government, which includes “building a regional cooperation network for shared prosperity,” Korea is paying special attention to the Central Asia region in order to create and strengthen a mutually beneficial cooperation network.

“Korea recognizes the strategic importance of Central Asia and is expanding cooperation in areas that enhance the stability and resilience of Korea and the Central Asian region. These are areas such as supply chains, transport and logistics, healthcare, climate change and education,” stated the Secretary of the President of the Republic of Korea for Economic Security.

It is especially emphasized that today Korea and Central Asia have achieved breakthrough successes in various fields. Trade with countries in the region has increased approximately 600-fold over 30 years, from US$15 million in 1992 to US$9.2 billion last year. The total volume of Korean direct investment in Central Asia has exceeded US$6 billion.

At the expert forum organized by ISMI in partnership with the Korean Center for International Regional Studies at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, a detailed exchange of views took place on the current situation in Central Asia, prospects for the further development of economic cooperation and the expansion of cultural and humanitarian dialogue between the Central Asian countries and the Republic Korea.

From the Korean side, the event was attended by Director of the Center for International Regional Studies Kang Jun Young, Executive Director of the Secretariat of the Cooperation Forum “Republic of Korea - Central Asia” Lee Jong Guk, Secretary of the President of the Republic of Korea for Economic Security Wang Yoon Jung, Special Rapporteur of the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea Om Narin, professors and experts from the Agency for Research Projects on National Strategies, etc.