WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) -- Record-high energy prices have provoked a global scramble among nations dependent on energy imports to lock in their requirements, in Asia none more so than China and Japan, the world's second- and third-largest oil importers, with daily imports of an estimated 7 million and 5.4 million barrels per day respectively.

East Asia's third economic giant, South Korea, is also involved in the race to secure energy imports and has focused its sights on Central Asia, where it has recently scored a number of successes. As South Korea's oil imports now top 2 million bpd vs. a paltry production of less than 18,000 bpd, Seoul has little choice but to prospect abroad if it is to keep its economy humming. In 2004 South Korea joined the trillion-dollar club of world economies, and its gross domestic product per capita is now equivalent to that of Greece or Spain.

The South Korean government has made explicit its intentions to boost trade with Central Asia, where it will offer financial services and sophisticated IT technology as negotiating tools. As part of Seoul's "energy diplomacy," on March 27 South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said he will soon visit Central Asia, telling journalists, "In consideration of President Lee Myung-bak's overseas schedule, I'm planning on a trip to Central Asia during May, the first destination in my resource diplomacy. Central Asia is rich in gas, petroleum, minerals and other natural resources, so I'll travel with South Korean enterprises specializing in infrastructure construction. A working-level delegation will visit the Central Asian countries ahead of my departure."

Laying the groundwork for Han's visit, a 30-member South Korean delegation led by Second Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Lee Jae-hun on March 29 began a trip that will include stops in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and last until April 9. Lee's high-powered team will include officials from the Offices of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Ministry, along with representatives from state-run companies including Korea National Oil Corp., Korea Gas Corp., Korea Resources Corp. and Korea Electric Power Corp. (NYSE:KEP)

Seoul has already scored a major success in its energy diplomacy, as during Uzbek President Islam Karimov's February state visit to South Korea, a 50-50 joint venture agreement worth a potential $1.8 billion was concluded between state-controlled energy company Uzbekneftegaz and a South Korean energy consortium, whose members include KOGAS, Lotte Daesan Petrochemical Corp., LG Corp., STX Energy Co. and SK Gas Co. to develop Uzbekistan's Surgil natural gas field.