South Korea is set to host its first-ever summit with five Central Asian nations this September, marking a major step in Seoul’s growing engagement with the region.

The summit will bring together leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan on September 16-17, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun described the event as a key opportunity to expand South Korea’s diplomatic footprint in Central Asia and strengthen the “New Northern Policy” initiative launched under ex-President Moon Jae-in.

The strategy aims to deepen cooperation with Central Asian states under the broader vision of peace and shared prosperity across Eurasia.

Cho emphasized that the upcoming summit will not only enhance bilateral and multilateral ties but also lay the groundwork for collaboration in critical areas such as supply chain diversification and engagement with ethnic Korean communities living in the region.