By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Dr. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center (GRC), to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. In recent years, relations between Central Asia (CA) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have shown a steady and positive dynamic. The economic potential of the CA and GCC countries, complemented by a deepening political dialogue, mutual intere
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo From Rio to Ajaccio, circumnavigating the globe dozens of times if you consider the sheer number of kilometres travelled, Pope Francis’ 47 Apostolic Visits abroad took him and his message of closeness to every continent and almost every corner of the earth, the Vatican News reported. Throughout the years and journeys, it became increasingly clear that he set the tone immediately when he was photographed upon his departure to Brazil in 2013, carrying his little black bag as he climbed the steps into the aircraft. Then, during the flight, he walked up and down th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, has died on April 21 at the age of 88, the AP reported. The pope, who had recently been hospitalized and recovered due to severe pneumonia, was resuming his activities after returning to the Vatican. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,″ Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, said in an announcement. Francis, who
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo | The second Kurultai (Assembly) of Kazakhs of Asian countries took place in Seoul, South Korea on April 5~6, bringing together over 200 participants, including members of the Kazakh community from Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Mongolia. The event was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea, the "Otandastar Foundation," and the "Qazaq Nomad" Kazakh Association in Seoul. The gathering was held at the Global Campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The main goal of the Kurultai was to strengthen cultural ties an
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Tajikistan in Korea to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. Organized by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in collaboration with an international expert and the Asian Development Bank, the seminar was titled "Strengthening Scientific Reporting on the Issues of Melting and Glacier Protection" held on April 8th in Dushanbe. The training seminar, "Strengthening Scientific Reporting on the Issues of Melting and Glacier Protection," was conducted w
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article is an exclusive interview given by the President of Uzbekistan to Euronews on the eve of the first Central Asia-European Union summit to be held in Samarkand on April 3-4 this year. It was contributed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. The upcoming summit in Samarkand will be truly historic as it will bring together for the first time the leaders of the five Central Asian countries and the EU in one place, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in a Euronews exclusive. The Central Asia-EU
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo On March 31 2025, Presidents Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan celebrated the international holiday of Navruz at the '20th Anniversary of Independence of Tajikistan' stadium. The event featured a joint cultural program showcasing artists from all three nations. President Rahmon, in his address, extended warm Navruz greetings to the visiting heads of state, the people of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and international guests in Khujand. Highlighting Navruz's significance, President Rahmon em
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. In recent years, Uzbekistan and the European Union have been steadily expanding their trade, economic, investment, and financial-technical cooperation. The most active bilateral engagements across various levels have taken place over the past eight years, driven by the focused policy of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Strengthening political dialogue and supporting reforms have become key pillars of both bilater
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Academician Prof. Akmal Saidov, Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2020-2023), to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. In April 2025, Tashkent will host the 150th anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the first time in the history of Central Asia. This event brings together over 2000 parliamentarians from more than 100 national parliaments,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Belarus invites businesspeople and entrepreneurs to take part in the Fifth International Golf Tournament among Amateurs Minsk Golf Invitational 2025 to be held on May 23-24, 2025 in Minsk (Belarus), the Embassy of Belarus in Seoul said on March 18. The idea of the tournament is to renew the enthusiasm of both Business and Golf, and bring together businesspeople who share a passion for this beautiful game for the competition. The tournament take place on the private territory of the Minsk Golf Club, which is located in a forestland near the capital of Belarus an
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Parviz Muhammadzoda, doctor of Political Sciences, Professor of the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy of Tajikistan, International Relations Faculty Tajik National University, to Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Tajikistan in Seoul. –Ed. The state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan is considered a historic visit in the relations between the two states, opening a new page of comprehensive and mutually beneficia
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Under the auspices of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Astana International Forum 2025 will take place from May 29 to 30, as it continues its mission of fostering cross-border dialogues on international diplomacy and cooperation, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul announced on March 3. Against a backdrop of global disruption and polarization, the Forum will bring together government leaders, business executives, and academics to explore practical solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. With its strategic location and growing in
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan. The document was initiated by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Central Asian states. 152 UN member states, including the Republic of Korea, supported the resolution as co-sponsors, which underlines the high significance of the initiative and broad international consensus. The establishment of the UN SDG Centre is an important step in implementing the initiative of the President of Kazakhsta
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Embassy of Iran in Seoul to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. Nowruz is the most important Iranian tradition and the largest annual celebration of the people living in the cultural and civilizational sphere of the great Iran which is celebrated every year at the beginning of spring—at the moment when the earth enters the vernal equinox. Nowruz is celebrated on the occasion of the end of the cold season and the beginning of the period of reproduction when nature is renewed and the working season begins, especial
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young To mark the successful journey as a global leap forward, the Al-Asa Forum focuses on investing in the present and predicting the future in line with the national direction. The forum sought to enrich and empower events to promote promising investment opportunities, forge strategic partnerships and alliances, and launch sustainable development projects. These initiatives highlight Al-Asa's resources, competitive advantages, and investment potential, and these efforts will undoubtedly promote regional prosperity and support the development journey in line with