South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo said the sides will push for "future-oriented" cooperation on the basis of their historical relations and emotional bonds.

"We agreed to share our experience and wisdom on future-oriented issues such as the strengthening of national competitiveness, efficient use of energy, and education of human resources for national development," Shin told reporters after a session at the third Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum held at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, central Seoul.

"Korea will maintain mutually cooperative relations with these five Central Asian nations to become a true partner," The Korea Herald reported quoting Shin Kak-soo.

"Central Asian countries, keen on promoting modernization and industrializations, have long been interested in developing their relations with Korea," said Kim Eun-joong, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s European Affairs Bureau. "In particular, the region is seeking to share Korea’s experience as a unique nation that simultaneously fostered democracy and market economy."

South Korea is the only nation that holds such a regular high-level forum with all the five Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

More than 50 representatives from the five nations took part in the forum, with each delegation headed by vice foreign ministers or officials with equivalent posts. Around 400 South Korean government officials, business leaders, scholars, and students also joined it.

Shin said Seoul will push for the establishment of a Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Centre aimed at promoting economic and cultural relations between the two sides.