OREANDA-NEWS. December 3, 2010. A Turkmen delegation, who was participating in the 4th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

During the meeting held in a businesslike and constructive atmosphere, an exchange of views on the ways to step up mutually advantageous bilateral partnership, which had been fostered by the state visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Korea, took place. In this regard emphasis was put on an intense interest showed by Korean partners in strengthening intergovernmental collaboration with Turkmenistan, which the Republic of Korean viewed as a strategic partner.

It was noted that this interest was conditioned by the high economic growth rate in the framework of large-scale reforms initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as well as the Turkmen leader’s policy of wide international cooperation based on the status of neutrality of the Turkmen state serving for the common benefit.

The mutual interest in intensifying Turkmen-Korean contacts, the groundwork for successful development of which was the profound resource and economic potential of the two countries, was expressed in this context. The fuel and energy, trade and economic, construction, industry and other sectors were mentioned as the priority vectors of collaboration. A focus of discussion was the aspects of humanitarian cooperation, in particular education and culture. A bright illustration of intensifying cultural contacts were the Days of Culture in Turkmenistan, which were held in Seoul this May.

Emphasis was put on an intense interest of large South Korean in establishing close business contacts with Turkmenistan, where the favourable investment climate was created for foreign businesses. In this aspect the intention of the business circles of the Republic Korea to collaborate actively in large-scale development programmes in Turkmenistan was declared in this context. This intention had been declared first at the Turkmen-Korean business forum in Ashgabat this October.

In Seoul the Turkmen delegation participated in the Third Korea-Central Asia Investment Forum organized in the framework of the 4th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum. Leading South Korean companies attended the Forum.

During the visit to Seoul the Turkmen delegation participated in the 3rd Central Asia-ROK Meeting on Cultural Resource Collaboration.