Seoul Officially Launches Preparations for the Republic of Korea–Central Asia Summit
The first meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the historic Korea–Central Asia Summit was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The summit is scheduled for September 16–17, 2026 in Seoul and is intended to lay the foundation for a new, multidimensional platform for cooperation.
The scale of preparations reported by the Korean media is unprecedented. The committee is chaired personally by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and includes heads of nearly all key ministries — from economy, finance and defence to agencies responsible for SME development and start-ups.
The defining feature of the upcoming summit is its shift from a purely diplomatic format towards practical economic synergy. Seoul views Central Asia as a critically important region for ensuring its economic stability.
Priority areas identified by the Preparatory Committee include:
– Critical minerals and energy — direct partnerships in the extraction and processing of resources essential for Korea’s high-tech industries.
– Transport connectivity — integration of logistics routes linking Korean ports with regional transit hubs, including Turkmenistan’s port infrastructure.
– Digital transformation — projects in ICT, smart cities and agriculture.
– Security and climate — coordination on regional stability and environmental sustainability.
Minister Cho Hyun noted that the summit represents a continuation of Korea’s New Northern Policy, now with a stronger focus on supply chain diversification and leveraging Central Asia’s geoeconomic significance amid changing global dynamics.
The involvement of Korea’s leading economic organisations (KCCI, FKI) confirms that the summit will serve as a platform for major private capital ready for long-term investment in the region.
For Turkmenistan, which is actively developing its industrial and transport sectors, the September 2026 summit in Seoul offers an opportunity to consolidate its status as Korea’s key strategic partner in the Caspian region.
