Lee at Korea-Central Asia Official Banquet: "The Silk Road of the Future Will Open Paths of Hope for Youth"

Official Banquet for the Korea-Central Asia Summit Held on the 16th
Lee: "A Bountiful Table of Cooperation Including Energy"

President Lee Jae-myung said on the 16th, "The 'Silk Road of the future' that we will travel together will connect energy, advanced technology, businesses, and markets as one, opening up new paths of dreams and hope for young people in both countries."

President Lee made these remarks in his dinner speech at the official dinner of the Korea-Central Asia Summit held in Seoul on this day. He emphasized, "Korea and Central Asia are long-time friends who are best described as distant yet close neighbors," and added, "The Silk Road has enabled people and cultures to travel between our two regions, and the Koryoin community rooted in Central Asia has served as a strong bridge between the two areas for over 90 years."

President Lee Jae-myung is proposing a toast at the official dinner of the 1st Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026 held at a hotel in Seoul on September 16, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee went on to say, "I have heard that in Central Asia, when a precious guest visits, they serve their very best food without reservation," and continued, "Today, at the summit, we have prepared a rich table of cooperation. The topics are as diverse as the menu at this dinner, ranging from energy, trade and investment, transportation and infrastructure, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, to climate crisis, peace, and security."

He also remarked, "I have heard that in Central Asia, a guest's teacup is not filled all the way," and added, "I believe it is a gesture of affection, showing the desire to refill your cup often and thus spend more time together. I welcome you all here tonight with the same sentiment."

In addition, President Lee stated, "The five Central Asian countries that are with us tonight are true friends with whom the Republic of Korea genuinely wishes to sit together more often and for longer," and proposed a toast by saying, "To the unwavering friendship between Korea and Central Asia, and to the prosperous Silk Road we will open together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.