By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

The 16th Executive Committee meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Asia–Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum was held in Seoul, where participants discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between the countries of the region and the Republic of Korea.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Forum Secretariat, and the Embassies of the Central Asian countries. The agenda covered the 2025 activities of the Secretariat and the main priorities for 2026, including preparations for the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit.

The Executive Director of the Forum Secretariat, Mr. Rhee Jong Kook, presented a report on the Secretariat’s work, noting the successful implementation of cultural and humanitarian initiatives such as the Central Asia Cultural Days in Seoul and Gwangju, as well as the development of joint projects in tourism and ICT. He emphasized that in 2026, the Secretariat’s focus will be on practical initiatives aimed at deepening regional cooperation.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Nurgali Arystanov, stated that the Forum has established itself as an effective platform for building trust and promoting practical cooperation. According to him, the upcoming 2026 Summit will mark an important milestone in partnership development and give a strong impetus to the Central Asia–Korea interaction.

Mr. Nam Jin, Deputy Director-General for Northeast and Central Asian Affairs at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highly appreciated the constructive and close collaboration with the countries of the region.

Overall, the participants acknowledged the contribution of the Secretariat to the promotion of public diplomacy and the development of cooperation in such areas as transport and logistics, energy, industrial modernization and diversification, climate change and environment, healthcare, education, and culture.