CARK Local Governments Cooperation Forum Launched in Seoul, DKnews.kz reports.
The first Central Asia – Republic of Korea Local Governments Cooperation Forum was organized in Seoul by the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea (GAROK). The event brought together leading representatives of local authorities, academia, and businesses from Central Asia and the Republic of Korea to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation in various fields.
In his welcoming remarks, Secretary General of GAROK, Yoo Min Bong, emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea. He highlighted that expanding mutual ties in business, technology, tourism, and sustainable development is crucial for the future of collaboration.
In his address, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador, Nurgali Arystanov, underscored the significance of hosting the first local government forum within the C5+K initiative. He noted that subnational diplomacy creates new opportunities for cooperation between the cities and regions of Central Asia and Korea. The Kazakh Ambassador also highlighted the achievements of this year in advancing relations between Central Asia and Korea, including President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visits to the region, parliamentary meetings, and the launch of new C5+K initiatives.
Deputy Akim of Astana, Yevgeniy Glotov, spoke about the city’s strategic importance as a hub of political, economic, and cultural activity in the region. He also emphasized the capital’s active efforts to develop infrastructure aimed at attracting foreign investments and improving the quality of life for its residents.
The forum, which was also attended by Deputy Governor of Turkistan Region Nuralkhan Kusherov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of JSC “Social-entrepreneurial corporation Aktobe” Yerbol Suleimanov, and representatives of companies of these regions, featured meetings with business communities, free economic zones, and local authorities. Participants discussed further development of bilateral cooperation in areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and tourism.
Overall, the Forum marked an important step in creating a new platform for regional interaction and identifying promising areas of cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, and advanced technologies.
