Seoul: South Korea hosted a ministerial-level meeting with Central Asian nations Monday, vowing to strengthen supply chain cooperation between Asia's No. 4 economy and the region. The industrial ministerial meeting involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan was held to discuss ways to expand ties in supply chains, including critical minerals, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the meeting, the six countries committed to enhancing cooperation to address the changing global trade environment and the reshuffling of supply chains. The participants agreed to increase South Korea's involvement in ongoing projects in the Central Asian region, focusing on the construction of industrial complexes and smart infrastructure, as well as plant modernization.

The Central Asian nations agreed to combine their mineral resources with South Korea's processing technologies to bolster cooperation across all levels of supply chains. The countries will also facilitate South Korea's support in adopting smart technologies at factories in Central Asia while promoting exchanges among young experts.