Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 7 October, the fourth "Forum on Culture and Strategies of the Korean Peninsula and Northern Countries" took place in Seoul, organized by the Korean Center for International Regional Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (CIAS).

The event featured heads of diplomatic missions from Central Asian countries, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, as well as representatives from international organizations and the media. For the first time, directors of strategic research institutes from Central Asian states were invited to the forum.

Eldor Aripov, the director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISMI), spoke during the session dedicated to strategic dialogue between the Republic of Korea and Central Asia.

He emphasized that sustainable economic development in the region, the opening of borders, and a growing population are enhancing its geostrategic significance, turning Central Asia into a "magnet" for global powers, including South Korea.

Aripov noted that over the past seven years, the total GDP of Central Asian countries has increased by 6.3%, and trade between South Korea and Central Asia has grown by 600 times, exceeding $10 billion in 2023. He also highlighted the significant contribution of Korean investments to the development of key sectors of the region’s economy.

In his speech, Aripov expressed the view that the current cooperation between Central Asia and the Republic of Korea, despite impressive achievements, does not fully reflect the potential available to the countries.

He proposed several areas to enhance multilateral interaction, including developing industrial cooperation, sustainable supply chains, environmental sustainability, and human capital development.

The importance of expanding cooperation in labor migration and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties was also emphasized, particularly considering the Korean diaspora in the region. Aripov suggested launching an annual "Korean Diaspora Networks in Central Asia" forum to support cultural ties and mutual understanding among peoples.

The forum was initiated in 2021 to facilitate cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the countries located north of the Korean Peninsula.