Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with ambassadors from five Central Asian countries in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss cooperation measures for the successful hosting of the "2026 First Korea-Central Asia Summit," scheduled for September.
Cho held a dinner meeting at the minister's official residence with Kyrgyz Ambassador Aida Ismailova, Turkmen Ambassador Begench Durdyev, Tajik Ambassador Salohiddin Kirom, Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Abdusalomov, and Kazakh Ambassador-designate Aset Issekeshev, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Cho explained that the Korean government is pursuing foreign policy aimed at succeeding and developing the "New Northern Policy" under its pragmatic diplomacy stance, and views Central Asia as a key partner region for cooperation. He also noted that Korea and Central Asia have developed cooperation across various fields, including politics, economy, and culture.
He emphasized that the "2026 First Korea-Central Asia Summit" in September will serve as an important opportunity to elevate cooperation between the two regions to a higher level. Cho also asked the five Central Asian ambassadors to play an active role in advancing cooperation between the two regions.
In response, the ambassadors said they would actively cooperate at the embassy level to ensure that tangible, mutually beneficial cooperation outcomes are produced that citizens of both sides can feel, as the leaders of the five Central Asian countries will visit Korea to attend the summit.
