Korea’s Foreign Minister Song Min-soon has pledged to cooperate with Central Asia, saying that Korea’s past experience of having achieved remarkable economic development in such a short time will be helpful for Central Asian countries looking to leap into the global economy, Korea.net reported.

In an inaugural speech for the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in central Seoul on Thursday (Nov. 15), Song said Korea is Central Asian countries’ best partner for development cooperation, noting that Korea has injected funds and resources into the region and will continue to do so.

Song said the two sides were building an economic partnership by strategically advancing into each other’s markets. He pointed out Central Asia’s advantages in airline production, petrochemicals and energy against Korea’s experience in economic development and its strengths in information, communication and construction.

At the forum, participants shared their views on prospects for the partnership.
Participants included foreign ministers and ambassadors from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Korean officials and scholars.