BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 15. South Korea and
Turkmenistan will jointly open new paths of cooperation in
business, technology and culture, President Lee Jae Myung said.
The statement was made in a post on the Korean president's
official social media account on September 15.
“Just as people and goods once traveled along the ancient Silk
Road, our two countries will now jointly open new paths where
businesses, youth, technology, and culture can flow back and
forth,” Lee said.
The South Korean president said the two countries have steadily
expanded cooperation since establishing diplomatic relations in
1992.
According to Lee, bilateral cooperation has been centered on the
energy and plant sectors.
Meanwhile, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is paying a
state visit to South Korea and taking part in the first Central
Asia-Republic of Korea Summit in Seoul on September 16-17. The
summit brings together the leaders of South Korea and the five
Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - marking the first elevation of the
Korea-Central Asia dialogue to the leaders’ level. Seoul has said
the summit is intended to deepen regional cooperation and produce
practical results for the participating countries.
For Turkmenistan, the summit is taking place alongside a state
visit and bilateral negotiations with the South Korean leadership.
During South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to
Turkmenistan in June 2024, the two countries signed a memorandum
aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas including the economy
and investment, culture, education, communications and human
exchanges. Turkmenistan also expressed support for Seoul's K-Silk
Road initiative, which South Korea presented as its comprehensive
strategy for expanding cooperation with the five Central Asian
countries.
The current summit is therefore taking place against the
backdrop of an effort by Seoul to elevate its cooperation with
Central Asia to the leaders' level.
