Central Asian states, South Korea sign Seoul declaration at first summit

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, together with South Korea, have adopted the Seoul Declaration following their first summit, establishing a framework for expanded cooperation across several sectors.

According to the press service of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, the leaders agreed to hold the summit every two years. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2028. In the interim, foreign ministers will oversee the implementation of agreements reached by the leaders, Caliber.Az reports via Kyrgyz media.

Air transport was among the areas highlighted in the declaration. The countries plan to strengthen cooperation in aviation, including the development of regional routes, improvements in flight safety and the exchange of expertise in airport management. The declaration, however, does not announce any specific new flights.

Economic cooperation is another key priority. The leaders identified trade, transport infrastructure and the processing of critical minerals as areas for closer collaboration. They also expressed interest in developing joint production chains aimed at processing raw materials and manufacturing higher-value-added products.

In the energy sector, the countries plan to explore cooperation in hydropower, renewable energy and the modernisation of infrastructure with the use of South Korean technologies.

The declaration also places emphasis on artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The leaders supported programs to train civil servants from Central Asian countries in AI and highlighted cooperation in the digitisation of public services and workforce development.

Education was also included among the areas for expanded cooperation, with the leaders backing joint research initiatives, student exchanges and scholarship programs.

By Sabina Mammadli