President Lee Calls Central Asia Leaders True Friends

President Lee Jae-myung expressed his desire for closer ties with the leaders of five Central Asian countries during the official dinner of the Korea-Central Asia Summit. He stated, "We want to be true friends who meet more often and for longer periods of time."
 
In his speech at the dinner held in Seoul, President Lee declared, "The leaders of Korea and the five Central Asian countries are marking the beginning of a historic first Korea-Central Asia Summit and are committed to creating a new era of cooperation."
 
He characterized Korea and Central Asia as "distant yet close neighbors" and long-time friends, highlighting the historical connections through the Silk Road and the role of Korean expatriates in Central Asia as a bridge between the two regions.
 
President Lee likened the outcomes of the summit to a "bountiful table of cooperation," referencing the hospitality culture of Central Asia and Korea's culinary traditions. He noted, "We discussed a variety of cooperation topics, including energy, trade and investment, transportation and infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, climate crisis, and peace and security."
 
He emphasized, "The future Silk Road we will travel together will connect energy and advanced technology, businesses and markets, opening new paths of dreams and hopes for our youth."
 
President Lee introduced the Central Asian custom of frequently refilling guests' teacups as a sign of affection, stating, "It expresses a desire to spend a little more time together, and I share the same sentiment in welcoming you all."
 
In closing, he proposed a toast to the enduring friendship between Korea and Central Asia and the "Silk Road of Prosperity" they will build together.