 |
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The 1st Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was successfully held on Nov. 15, with around 160 participants from government, business and academic circles in Korea and five Central Asian countries ― Kazakhstan, Kirgiz, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ― filling the International Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In addition to the Forum, five bilateral meetings of the vice foreign ministers of Korea and the Central Asian countries took place respectively on the 16th, followed by on-site tours of power plants and IT corporations on the 17th.
Central Asia has become a region of vital interest to many developed countries in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the subsequent creation of several independent states. Big players are now reaching out to this strategic point, which links Europe and Asia, in a bid to possess the upper hand in the geopolitical game.
We have witnessed remarkable progress in Korea-Central Asia relations in recent years. Our mutually beneficial and complementary economic relations have guided both parties towards a ``win-win game.'' Besides, the approximately 320,000 ethnic Koreans living in Central Asia have been playing an invaluable role in bridging our two sides over the years.
The Central Asian countries have been showing great interest in learning from the Korean development model, while Korea hopes to secure valuable energy resources and further expand business opportunities in the newly emerging market.
With this positive development, our government has recently hammered out a comprehensive policy designed to improve our ties with Central Asia. In an effort to implement this policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade organized a seminar on Korea-Central Asia cooperation in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, last July, which later became a steppingstone for the 1st Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum.
The Forum attested to the positive image of Korea as a reliable partner. Representatives from Central Asian countries expressed their approval of the forum on grounds that ``Koreans have neither imposed political propaganda, nor attempted to touch politically sensitive domestic agendas.'' They agreed to continue to have multi-lateral dialogue with Korea within this framework from next year.
The forum was hailed by the domestic audience as well. Entrepreneurs, scholars and experts in areas ranging from economy, housing, construction, IT, culture and education, warmly responded to our government's initiative, by actively participating in various occasions organized for the forum.
On the diplomatic front, the successful holding of the first Forum itself bears significant meaning, as it testifies to the triumph of our government's fresh diplomatic initiative to set up a multilateral dialogue with the Central Asian countries.
No less important is that the Forum has been served as an opportunity for face-to-face contacts and business networking. In the eyes of the Korean companies investing in the Central Asian region, in particular, business opportunities looms large in areas such as cultural technology (CT) and contents industry, tourism and education.
Taking advantage of the Forum, participants from both sides held various informal events on the margins, culminating in a better understanding with each other.
Although initiated by the government, the Forum cannot be sustained without the active participation on the part of the business and the relevant experts. For this to occur, the government, entrepreneurs and the academia should work closely to foster this burgeoning forum.
Bearing in mind that the Central Asian countries were attracted by our proposed idea of ``complementary partnership on equal terms,'' we should cultivate a creative ``Korean style'' multi-lateral forum, which is distinct and differentiated from the other multi-lateral dialogues in the region.
I look forward to seeing the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum flourish to become a solid platform for everlasting friendship and mutual cooperation between Korea and the Central Asian countries.
![[INTERVIEW] Partnership with allies is key to Seoul's space plans](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/7c6f5aaf019240eeb38dcf75f9d97cb3.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/77a9da6df7da4284adbee249a87307c1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
