Says Ambassador Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan at a seminar
Ambassador Myrat Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan in Seoul said, “Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea are countries that have a rich cultural heritage, the people of which have been able to preserve national traditions and customs.” Speaking at a seminar at the Hanyang University in Seoul on May 16, 2017 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and his country, Ambassador Mammetalyyev then stated, “The present level of Turkmen-Korean interaction in the humanitarian and cultural field contributes to an even closer rapprochement between the two countries and people and in this regard, I would like to note that various creative actions are held on a regular basis in our countries.”
The meeting was attended by leading figures from the two countries who included, from the Turkmeni side, besides Ambassador Mammetalyyev, Director Muhammedovez Gurbanniyazov of the Centre of Technologies, Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan; Deputy Head of the European Department Kakadjan Mommadov at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Acting Head of International Information Department Murad Nazarov at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; and Ambassadors Ramzi Teymurov of Azerbaijan, Yusuf Sharifzoda of Tajikistan and Andrei Popkov of Belarus.
From the Korean side came Director Gu-Ho Eom of the Graduate School of International Studies at Hanyang University and a number of other faculty members plus a few civic figures from Korean society, including Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post from the mass communications media.
Excerpts from message of Ambassador Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan:
The main purpose of today's conference is to assess the quarter-century cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea and to note the achieved progress. The work of the forum will allow defining new priorities of the interstate partnership in the political, economic and social spheres, as well as the possibility of implementing joint socially significant projects.
As you know, diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea were established in February 1992. Thanks to an open dialogue over the past 25 years, an effective and reliable system of relationships has been built between the two countries. The partnership, based on mutually beneficial cooperation and trusting relations, allows Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea to maintain a high level of interstate dialogue.
Turkmenistan, which implements the open door policy and much vector international cooperation under the leadership of esteemed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, attaches great importance to building up bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea. Turkmenistan sees an important and reliable partner in the Republic of Korea, which rightfully occupies a leading position among the developed countries of the region and the world.
Confirmation of the intention of our countries to follow the course on expanding effective cooperation can be seen through regular meetings at the highest level, each of which results in a trustful exchange of views of the leaders of the two countries on key issues of interstate partnership aimed at concrete results.
An effective basis for strengthening mutually beneficial partnership in a number of strategically priority areas is the existence of a solid legal base between our countries. Another important fact is that, on many topical issues of contemporary international life, our countries adhere to common principles and approaches. The cooperation between parliamentarians of the two countries is also successfully developing.
In recent years, the Turkmen-Korean trade and economic partnership has expanded significantly. Business contacts of leading South Korean companies with relevant ministries, departments, agencies and companies of Turkmenistan intensified. An important role in this process is played by joint activities within the framework of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Korean Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea are countries that have a rich cultural heritage, the people of which have been able to preserve national traditions and customs. The present level of Turkmen-Korean interaction in the humanitarian and cultural field contributes to an even closer rapprochement between the two countries and people. In this regard, I would like to note that various creative actions are held on a regular basis in our countries. Korea Central Asian Friendship Association plays an important role in successfully developing cultural ties.
In short, an open, trustful dialogue of reliable, time-tested partners - this is the way to fully characterize modern interstate relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea, which meet the interests of the people of the two countries have a great future. I regard this conference as another important step towards establishing stronger and longer-term bilateral relations and I am confident that all participants will agree with me.
In more detail, the main aspects of the Turkmen-Korean cooperation will be highlighted in the reports of the participants of the current forum.