BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 16. South Korea has
identified three priority areas for economic partnership with
Turkmenistan: energy and infrastructure, shipbuilding and
logistics, and joint training of specialists.
This was stated by South Korean Prime Minister Han Song Sook at
the Turkmen-Korean high-level business forum in Seoul with
participation of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar
Berdimuhamedov, according to the Turkmen government press
service.
According to the report, she said the first priority includes
the construction of energy and infrastructure facilities, while the
second covers shipbuilding and transport and logistics.
The third area focuses on joint training of specialists,
including through expanded cooperation between universities and the
exchange of technical knowledge and practical experience.
Han also highlighted the role of the King Sejong Institute in
Ashgabat in expanding educational and cultural exchanges between
the two countries.
She said that closer coordination in training technical
specialists would support the sustainable development of economic
cooperation between South Korea and Turkmenistan.
The South Korean prime minister also said the forum provides an
opportunity for companies from both countries to present new
investment opportunities and practical proposals to the Turkmen
president and government representatives.
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.
