New Group Envisions 21st Century Silk Road
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
A new non-profit group is aiming to reconnect Korea and the Central Asian region with a new, 21st century version of the ancient Silk Road.
``The old Silk Road connected the East and West and it helped facilitate commerce and exchange of cultures and new ideas. We want to help create a new Silk Road, one that will connect people from different countries, organize exchange programs and conferences and networking events,'' said Kim Won-ho, chairman of the group, named the Silk Road Foundation.
In an interview with The Korea Times Wednesday, Kim offered his organization's vision that will help bring people from Korea and Central Asia closer together. The foundation is being underwritten by a Seoul-based financial company, Golden Bridge Financial Group.
He said the foundation is scheduled to open a branch office in Uzbekistan this year. The group will also underwrite and organize various academic, cultural and athletic exchange programs with countries in the region including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Turkey and Mongolia.
``We will plan and organize regular academic forums as well as cultural and athletic events," he said. ``From Mongolia, for example, we have underwritten a tour of their orchestra to perform in Seoul. We are planning a number of cultural exchange events from Central Asian countries. We will organize forums and conferences and invite prominent figures from politics, business and arts and culture.''
Kim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this endeavor. He spent more than 30 years in journalism covering politics and international relations. Most recently, he served as president of Yonhap Informax, a financial and business data unit of Yonhap News Agency.
Kim noted that the South Korean government has initiated what it describes as ``energy diplomacy'' with resource-rich nations including Central Asian countries. ``That could be a win-win strategy for Korea as well as for Central Asian nations. They have energy resources and we can help them with our economy and cutting-edge technologies,'' he said.
He noted that there are also many things that non-profit groups can do to help bring Korea and Central Asian nations closer together. ``We hope to help facilitate exchange of culture, new ideas and people and create human-resource networking.''