Talks Held in Seoul Between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Lee Jae-myung
High-level talks took place today in Seoul between President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov—who is on a state visit to the Republic of Korea—and President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae-myung. Following the meeting, and in the presence of the heads of state, a package of bilateral documents was signed; these are intended to elevate the strategic partnership between Ashgabat and Seoul to a qualitatively new level, the Blue House press service reported.
During the meeting, President Lee Jae-myung expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen side for facilitating the safe evacuation of Korean citizens and their family members from Iran via Turkmen territory during emergencies in the Middle East in June of last year and March of this year. In turn, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the high level of trust placed in Korea and noted that the current visit would mark a significant turning point in the development of relations between the two countries.
The agenda of the talks covered a wide range of areas for practical cooperation. The heads of state examined opportunities to expand the participation of Korean companies in large-scale projects involving the construction of industrial plants and chemical facilities, as well as the modernization of Turkmenistan’s railway network. The parties emphasized that Turkmenistan’s national strategy, "Revival of the Great Silk Road," serves as a new engine of growth for all of Eurasia, and expressed their support for active joint efforts to develop logistics and transport infrastructure.
Particular attention was paid to industrial cooperation. The leaders highly valued the mutually beneficial cooperation model in the shipbuilding sector, which entails the joint construction of vessels within Turkmenistan by Korean and Turkmen specialists. Furthermore, the partnership will extend to the construction of new cities, the implementation of artificial intelligence, and the joint resolution of environmental challenges. The Korean side is prepared to provide Turkmenistan with smart water resource management technologies and ICT solutions for digital forest management and combating desertification.
The foundation for implementing these plans was a signed package of documents, including an agreement on investment protection, an agreement on mutual assistance in customs matters, and a memorandum of cooperation in the field of intellectual property. Agreements in the areas of the chemical industry, mechanical engineering, legal cooperation, environmental protection, and youth exchanges were also concluded.
