S. Korea, Central Asia to seek closer ties at Seoul forum

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- Top diplomats from Central Asian nations are to gather in Seoul later this week to attend an annual forum on bolstering political and economic ties with South Korea, officials said Tuesday.

South Korea is the only nation with a regular high-level forum with all the five
Central Asian countries -- Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and
Tajikistan.
China and Russia are focusing on bilateral consultations, while Japan's push to
hold a foreign ministerial forum with the nations on a regular basis remains
sluggish due to the absence of Turkmenistan.
"The Central Asian nations, rich in natural resources, hope to share South
Korea's experience in its rapid economic development," a South Korean foreign
ministry official said.
More than 50 representatives from the five nations will participate in the third
South Korea-Central Asia Forum to be held at the National Museum of Korea in
Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday.
Each delegation will be headed by vice foreign ministers or officials with the
equivalent post. Around 400 South Korean government officials, including Vice
Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo, business leaders, and students are expected to
take part in the forum.
Agenda items include ways to boost cooperation in the energy sector, partnership
in advanced education, and South Korea's efforts to help the medical sector of
the Central Asian nations, the official said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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