South Korean President begins Central Asian tour in Ashgabad

On April 17, 2019, after the official meeting ceremony and photographing in front of the state flags of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in to the “Oguzhan” Presidential Palace premises where Turkmen-Korean negotiations in narrow format were held.

Then the meeting in extensive format took place in participation of the members of official delegations of two countries.  The Leaders of two states discussed wide scope of issues related to Turkmen-Korean cooperation and determined its key directions in the framework of implementing bilateral agreements.

Realizing its foreign policy course, Turkmenistan focuses on three priority dimensions which consist of energy, transport and water diplomacy said the President of Turkmenistan during the talks.  Mentioning the closeness of views of two countries on the global sustainable development, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for the support of the Republic of Korea of the international initiatives of Turkmenistan in the area of energy security, stable transport and nature protection.

As was noted, the energy, transport, water resources and ecology are to become subjects for further effective work in the framework of Cooperation Forum between the Central Asian states and the Republic of Korea.  This Forum that was created upon the initiative of the Korean side more than 10 years ago serves as an efficient platform for the implementation of multilateral partnership projects in the region.

As the main component of Turkmen-Korean relations, trade-economic cooperation became one of the key talking points during the negotiations on the highest level.  The transport sphere was determined as one of the main courses of bilateral cooperation.  Large Korean transporting-logistical, shipbuilding companies, as well as the entities producing modern high-class automobiles, locomotives and railway carriages can take part in the development of transport-communicational infrastructure of Turkmenistan which is an important element of international cooperation in the area of stable transport.

With the aim of strengthening trade relations and coordination of present and prospective joint economic projects, widening partnership scopes and reinforcing the business activity of commercial groups of both countries, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to establish the joint Turkmen-Korean Business Council.  It may consist of Turkmen and Korean industrial enterprises, trade companies, banks, financial-manufacturing institutes and the economic information centres.

During the high-level talks, the significance of expanding collaboration in cultural-humanitarian sphere was noted.  In Turkmenistan, the Korean language and ancient distinctive culture of Korean people is highly respected.  In last years, more than 170 Turkmen students have completed and currently continue their studies in the high education institutions of the Republic of Korea.  One of the traditional aspects of bilateral cooperation is sport.  Martial arts sport types are very famous in Turkmenistan, one of which is the national Korean combat sport – Taekwondo.  Great opportunities are unfolding for cooperation in the sphere of tourism.