Seoul, Korea—The Central Asian Forum that took place during World Summit 2020 had as its theme “Cooperation and Peace: Eurasian Perspective and Interdependence.”
The forum, held on February 5, 2020, was one of the concurrent breakout sessions of the World Summit, which was held at the KINTEX Center outside Seoul from February 3 to 8.
The event began with Dr. Danai Ishemkulov, the secretary-general of the Eurasian Council for International Cooperation and Security, introducing the chair of the forum, Hon. Zainidin Kurmanov, a former chair of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan.
Hon. Kurmanov, who is also the president of the Eurasian Council for International Cooperation and Security, gave the opening remarks.
"Eurasia, as a continent, seeks a new image branding,” Hon. Kurmanov said. “It should be a peaceful, peace-loving, attractive image. The states of the region are undergoing a democratic transition; there is a transition from one civilization to another. After a long period of confrontation and isolation, Eurasia seeks to join the global processes, which opens up new opportunities for progress."
Dr. Chung Shik Yong, the Asia-Pacific regional chair of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), an organization that is affiliated with UPF, said: "The Eurasian Council for International Cooperation and Security can be a think tank for innovative ideas and sharing best practices that help reshape regional and global priorities. All the while, it will be grounded in the unique traditional customs and cultural values of Eurasia."
Hon. Sayyora Khodjaeva, a representative of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, wished success to the forum and said: "I wish many agreements to be signed as the accomplishments of the Central Asian Forum 2020, and I extend my words of gratitude to the forum's organizers on behalf of the Uzbekistan delegation: I wish our relations to deepen further."
Hon. Mamadsho Ilolov, a representative of the Presidential Administration of Tajikistan and the president of the Tajik Academy of Sciences, said: "On behalf of the Tajikistan delegation, I extend my gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the organizer of World Summit 2020, for the opportunity to participate in these highest-level talks like this one, the Central Asian Forum.” He also said: “Regional tourism development between Central Asian nations might spur global tourism, e.g., might thereafter attract tourists from Japan and Korea. Therefore, tourism development is one of the essentials for regional interdependence."
H.E. Tserendash Oyunbaatar, deputy prime minister of Mongolia (2015 to 2018), said: "Through our joint efforts and active cooperation, the development of interstate peace and collaboration will contribute to ensuring the prosperous and peaceful life of the people. It also will help prevent regional and interreligious conflicts, communicable diseases and epidemics."
Hon. Gadzhimurad Omarov, a member of the State Duma of Russia on the Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, warmly welcomed the participants of the forum. He said: “Even the coronavirus did not prevent everyone from gathering here and discussing the pressing problems of not only the Eurasian continent but the whole world, since the coronavirus and conflicts cover not only a single region, but all regions of the world.
“Therefore, I would like to thank, first of all, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
“It is a unique role model for us, so that upon returning to our homeland, we can identify ourselves as peaceful initiators not only in our region but throughout the world and humanity.
“For the development of integration processes and investment attractiveness, it is very important to consolidate the efforts of the entire region and the whole world, universal tolerance of all religions, as well as the education and upbringing of young people in this perspective as representatives of the future.
“In such forums, we should discuss often the consideration of new opportunities for building an optimal system of cooperation, to be an example for others through this forum."
Hon. Andrey Svintsov, a member of the State Duma of Russia and vice chair of the Committee on Informational Policy, IT and Communication, said: "Peace cannot be built with weapons. One of the biggest misfortunes of humankind, and we are doing everything so that Korea once again becomes united.
“Our common goal is the reunification of Korea, as it is part of world peace.
“Peace is not just the absence of war; peace is when everyone works in the name of one common goal.
“Colossal catastrophes can occur due to the fault of one or another leader of the country. It is completely unacceptable when someone says that he can use nuclear weapons.
“I thank the Eurasian Council for International Cooperation and Security for professing peace-loving tasks with good feelings for our neighbors, for other peoples and our planet."
Hon. Yoshiaki Harada, a member of the Diet of Japan and a former Japanese minister of the environment, was not able to attend the World Summit, but sent a message to the participants:
After thanking the attendees for their participation, Hon. Harada said: “The First Central Asian Forum was held as the Japan-Central Asian Forum, and I, as the chairman of that first forum, being in the position of the minister of the environment, Japan, organized it together with several respected fellow lawmakers from the National Assembly, the first deputy prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, a fellow minister of Kyrgyzstan, and a minister of Uzbekistan. The first forum was successfully held in the Parliament of Japan. …
“As chair, I believe that this Central Asian Forum will further develop in the future, consolidating its international status and greatly contributing to peace and cooperation in Eurasia, Central Asia and East Asia.”
Hon. Harada sent his best wishes for the success of the forum and in particular to the organizer, Hon. Zainidin Kurmanov.
Dr. Tetsuji Tanaka, director-general of the Central Asia Research Institute, advisor to the president of Kazakhstan and president of Kyrgyzstan (2005-2010), said: "I have been heading Japanese governmental institutions for 35 years in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
“Central Asia should focus on four major things: manufacturing development, tourism, ecology and regional water security.
“The latter plays an important role, since relations between upper-river-stream (mountainous) nations and lower-river-stream nations can cause conflicts in the future if they are not duly prevented."
Dr. Edward Yang, the head of K-Water Smart City Division, gave a presentation on “The Future of Smart Cities.” He described Busan Eco Delta City, the largest project in Asia with a price tag of $7 billion. The project, which is under construction by the state corporation, is 100 percent utilizable, Dr. Yang said, and will save 20 percent to 60 percent of energy.
Hon. Lee Yeong Sam from the Global Business Division of Land and Housing State Corporation of the Republic of Korea, gave a PowerPoint presentation titled “Pioneering Smart Cities in Korea and Abroad.” One of the largest companies, LH Corp., has $150 billion in assets and $7 billion revenue, he said.
Hon. Jong-seong Lim, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, warmly welcomed the participants and said: “I wish everyone to walk together, without fighting each other, for the sake of peace in Central Asia, for the sake of peace in Russia: for the sake of world peace.
“We can overcome such global and regional challenges facing humanity, such as natural disasters or coronavirus, if we stick together and walk hand in hand on the path to world peace."
Hon. Chan-wook Yoon, the Central Asia regional chair of International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), stated: "Our shared duty is to seek a common values shared by humankind that is intertwined into the global geo-economics and geopolitics.
“However, wise geo-economics and geopolitics have no sense without true love. Without true love, it becomes a mere race for power."
Representing the speaker of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, Hon. Salaidin Aidarov presented a Certificate of Honor of the Kyrgyz Republic to Hon. Jong-seong Lim, a member of the Korean National Assembly.
Certificates of Honorary Membership were distributed to participants, after which a group photograph was made.
Summary
As a result of the Central Asian Forum 2020, an agreement was reached between the Republic of Korea and Kyrgyzstan, to build a hydropower plant in the Kyrgyz Republic through a grant from the Korean government; and an agreement was reached between the Republic of Korea and Uzbekistan to build $6 million worth of football stadiums around the country.