TURKMENISTAN OPENS NEW PATHS OF COOPERATION WITH KOREA
Each passing century is defined for its exclusive and uncommon features. In this regard, during the Revival of a New Era of the Powerful State, the wise domestic and foreign policy of our Esteemed President has gained profound support in the world community. Guided by the principles of permanent neutrality, peacefulness, prosperity, and good-neighborliness, Turkmenistan is continuously achieving higher standards of development. As a result, our country’s international standing is steadily rising. This is vividly demonstrated by the enthusiastic global support received for every constructive initiative put forward by our Esteemed President. Today, under his visionary leadership, Turkmenistan has consolidated its role as a reliable partner in the international arena.
Independent and permanently neutral Turkmenistan is truly a land of peace and prosperity. The successes achieved by our peace-loving nation are inseparably linked to the well-being and happiness of our people. Furthermore, Turkmenistan’s equitable and friendly relations with nations across the world serve as another example of its commitment to peace-building.
Our esteemed President continues to advance our national principles in a modern context. Our noble principles of benevolence, brotherhood and peacefulness are world standards and are developed on the basis of our legal status of permanent neutrality. Diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea were established in 1992. It is essential to highlight the immense contribution made by our Hero Arkadag in elevating these relations to a qualitatively new level.
As is noted, developing mutually beneficial cooperation with countries around the world is a main aspect of the foreign policy pursued by our esteemed President.
In the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, our country is recognized globally through its national policy and diplomacy as a center of peace, security, and sustainable development. Currently, the new framework of international relations is profoundly influencing the methods and functions of diplomacy. Shifts in global politics are further enhancing the role of diplomacy and its significance in ensuring peace. This confirms that diplomacy is not merely a form of wisdom that unites states, but a noble art that fosters trust.
The noble qualities of the Turkmen people such as benevolence, peace-loving nature, and humanism, which have their roots in centuries past form the core of our state’s foreign policy based on positive neutrality. The significant successes achieved in implementing the country’s foreign policy strategy, as well as its equitable approach to fostering international cooperation and finding positive solutions to issues concerning universal human progress, enjoy broad support from the global community.
It should be noted that the state visit of our esteemed President to the Republic of Korea, which took place from September 14 to 16, was successful. This state visit by our Esteemed President opens a new chapter in the Turkmen-Korean partnership, the foundation of which was laid by the National Leader of the Turkmen People. A key milestone in this partnership was the opening of embassies – the Embassy of the Republic of Korea was opened in Ashgabat in 2007, and the Embassy of Turkmenistan began operations in Seoul in 2013. It should be noted that trade and economic cooperation remain areas of mutual interest and continue to be developed. Several projects involving leading Korean companies are currently being successfully implemented. To coordinate Turkmen-Korean relations systematically and expand them consistently, the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Korean Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation was established in 2008.
Thus, Neutral Turkmenistan, pursuing a peace-loving foreign policy aimed at global well-being, actively fosters friendly relations with nations around the world, including the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea are dynamically expanding and advancing to the level of a strategic partnership. In recent years, as a result of regular high-level contacts, the interstate dialogue has been distinguished by its positive character.
Today, our country’s multi-faceted cooperation encompasses:
Trade and Economic Partnership: Major Korean enterprises, such as Hyundai Engineering and Hyundai Corporation, are actively implementing monumental projects in Turkmenistan spanning the energy, gas-chemical, high-tech, and transport-communications sectors.
Cultural and Human Exchange: High-level visits and the active exchange of expertise in science, education, culture, and sports are consistently flourishing.
Multilateral Engagement: Both nations coordinate closely within international frameworks, most notably through the “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” Cooperation Forum.
Relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea have been maintained for many years in the fields of science, education, culture, social affairs, and humanitarian cooperation. Thus, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea are deepening their educational partnership, focusing on Korean language instruction, academic exchanges, and modernizing educational infrastructure.
Growing Popularity: Hundreds of Turkmen youth are actively studying Korean at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages and Ashgabat Secondary School No. 88.
Future Initiatives: Planned collaborations include joint student preparation for international Olympiads, co-authored scientific publications, and digital education roundtables.
Upcoming Milestones: New bilateral agreements signed during high-level meetings mark a significant step forward in bilateral relations. Our Esteemed President participated in the inaugural “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” summit.The signing of a number of bilateral documents on cooperation in areas such as the economy, investment, transport and logistics, the chemical industry, infrastructure, industrial construction, the environment, water management, science, and education is of great strategic importance. It can be noted with pride that within the framework of the state visit, our Esteemed President arrived at Sungkyunkwan University. There, the Head of State was warmly welcomed by the President of the University, Yoo Ji-beom.
Subsequently, our esteemed President and the President of Sungkyunkwan University viewed an exhibition showcasing Turkmenistan’s achievements in the fields of science, education, and culture, as well as examples of fine and applied arts. Subsequently, Yoo Ji-beom, the President of Sungkyunkwan University delivered an address, warmly welcoming our esteemed President and the members of the country’s delegation, and highlighting the significance of the ceremony. The President of Sungkyunkwan University, Yoo Ji-beom stated that conferring the title of Honorary Doctor of Political Science of Sungkyunkwan University upon our Head of State serves as a clear testament to the scientific and friendly relations established between the two nations. He emphasized that, under the wise leadership of our esteemed President and drawing upon his extensive political experience, Turkmenistan has solidified its position among the ranks of steadily developing nations. Significant work has been accomplished to ensure the prosperous life of the Turkmen people and to enhance the country’s prestige in the international arena.
As noted in the decision – in recognition of his extensive experience in international relations, lawmaking, local governance, and all sectors of the economy; his leading role in Turkmenistan’s state-building and in laying the foundations for sustainable national progress through the transition to a digital economy and economic diversification; as well as his significant contribution to the political stability and economic growth of Central Asia through a policy of neutrality and efforts to strengthen regional cooperation – and in accordance with the decision of the Postgraduate Education Committee, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Political Science from Sungkyunkwan University. Thus, the awarding of the title of Honorary Doctor of Political Science from Sungkyunkwan University to our esteemed President served as yet another clear example of the international community’s recognition of the domestic and foreign policies pursued by our Arkadagly Hero Serdar, who worthily continues the initiatives of our Hero Arkadag.
During the visit of our Head of State to the Republic of Korea, a series of bilateral meetings took place between members of our country’s delegation and representatives of the Korean side. Priority areas for developing mutually beneficial relations were discussed at these meetings. The parties exchanged views on ways to advance cooperation between the two countries, paying special attention to political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian ties. Bilateral documents were signed during the visit.
It can be noted with pride that among these are documents aimed at fostering cooperation in the education sector, namely: the Agreement on cooperation between the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages and Kangwon National University; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Engineering-Technical and Transport Communications of Turkmenistan and the Global Innovation Education Organization (Republic of Korea); and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan and the Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH); Memorandum of Understanding between the International University for the Humanities and Development and Kyung Hee University; Memorandum of Understanding between the International University for the Humanities and Development (Turkmenistan) and Incheon National University (Republic of Korea); Agreement on cooperation between the Scientific Center for Strategic Studies of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Asia Center of Seoul National University; and the Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and academic cooperation between the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and Seoul National University (Republic of Korea) testify to the great importance attached to new joint educational initiatives.
It should be noted that relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea are successfully developing within the framework of the “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” Cooperation Forum. The participation of our esteemed President in the first “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” summit, held within the framework of his state visit to the Republic of Korea, clearly demonstrated the active role of our country in addressing key issues of regional development.
Chemen BAYRIYEVA,
Senior lecturer of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan