ASTANA, September 23. /Dunyo IA/.  Analytical articles on the significance of the first “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” Summit at the level of heads of state have been published by Kazakhstan’s “Liter.kz” and “NP.kz”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

In particular, “Liter.kz” publication examines the reasons behind elevating the dialogue to the level of meetings between leaders, as well as Uzbekistan’s key role in strengthening regional interconnectedness, given that the country accounts for nearly half of the region’s population. It cites Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies Eldor Aripov as saying that over the past eight years, bilateral trade has nearly doubled, South Korean investment has exceeded $8 billion, while around 700 companies with Korean capital, branches of universities, and a Korean diaspora of 170,000 people operate in Uzbekistan.

“NP.kz” article highlights the transformation of the “Central Asia+1” format and the “K-Silk Road” strategy, aimed at technology transfer and industrial cooperation. Using Uzbekistan as an example, it traces the path from automotive manufacturing in the 1990s and the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex to modern “high-tech” projects, while also noting a portfolio of joint initiatives with the “Korea Export-Import Bank” (KEXIM) and KOICA worth $3.5 billion.

Articles conclude that the summit in Seoul laid the foundation for a new 30-year stage in relations, shifting South Korea’s dialogue with the countries of the region from individual projects towards strategic partnership.