By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Korea and five Central Asian nations discussed ways of facilitating co-prosperity through the creation of a ``New Silk Road'' at a forum here, First Vice Foreign Minister Shin Gak-soo said Wednesday.
The third Korea-Central Asia Forum opened in Seoul to discuss expanding cooperation between Korea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
``Both young and old generations from Korea and Central Asian countries had deep discussions on joint prosperity and I think it is a meaningful step to consolidate a partnership for the new Silk Road,'' Shin told reporters.
The forum offers a chance to share experience on strengthening competitiveness, achieving sustainable growth and nurturing human resources, he added.
On Thursday, sessions will take place at the National Museum of Korea to introduce possible cooperation projects between Korea and the participating countries, and local companies will be able to receive information on investment opportunities.
Senior officials participating in the forum will inspect a thermal power plant in Yeonghung, Incheon; and the international business district in Songdo, Incheon, Friday.
President Lee Myung-bak has sought to improve relations with Asian countries under his New Asia Initiative.
While promoting free trade deals with Southeast Asian countries, Korea has sought joint projects in Central Asia in order to secure stable sources of energy and natural resources.
During the forum, Lee Ho-geun, director of the Presidential Committee on National Competitiveness, discussed Korea's strengths and weaknesses, and ways to beef up the latter.
He noted that Seoul was seeking ``preemptive, decisive and sufficient'' measures.
In order to attract more foreign investment, the country plans to increase the number of foreign investment zones from the current 13 to 20 by 2010, he said.
Lee also stressed that Korea was moving to sign more free trade agreements (FTA) with foreign nations.
Free trade pacts with India and the EU are expected to come into effect next year and the nation has been negotiating FTAs with Australia, New Zealand and Peru.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
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