Signal First Korea-Central Asia Summit opens in Seoul, to adopt Seoul Declaration

Summary

The first Republic of Korea-Central Asia Summit is being held in Seoul on September 16-17, 2026. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of all five Central Asian states -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- are meeting for the first leader-level summit, elevating nearly two decades of ministerial dialogue into a leader-level partnership. The summit is set to adopt a 'Seoul Declaration' establishing a medium- and long-term cooperation framework centered on critical minerals, energy, and resilient supply chains. The leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan are making state visits to Korea around the summit. The gathering aims to diversify South Korea's supply chains and give new momentum to its 'New Northern Policy' deepening ties across Eurasia.