BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 15. South Korea and
Turkmenistan agreed to expand cooperation on smart water management
and water infrastructure modernization.
This was reflected in a statement by the press service of the
President of the Republic of S. Korea on September 15.
According to the information, the sides plan to link Korean
smart water management technologies with Turkmenistan's needs in
modernizing water infrastructure and improving water resource
management.
"The leaders of the countries agreed that “effective management
of water resources and combating desertification are important
national tasks” for Turkmenistan," the statement says.
Furthermore, the parties agreed to expand cooperation in the
forestry sector by sharing reforestation experience and know-how in
digital forest management based on information and communication
technologies.
The sides will also work together to address climate change and
desertification through the use of forest resources, the report
said.
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.
