President Yoon Suk-yeol paid a state visit to Turkmenistan at the invitation of His Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of the Republic of Turkmenistan on June 10-11, 2024.
The two leaders discussed ways to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in the economic, social and cultural fields, as well as regional and international issues of common interest during a summit held on June 10, 2024 in a friendly and warm atmosphere. The two leaders decided to further develop the bilateral and mutually beneficial partnership to promote common prosperity.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov endorsed the “Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Cooperation Initiative,” the first pivotal Asia strategy announced by the ROK government in June 2024, and encouraged the two governments to work closely together to implement the initiative.
The two leaders attached special importance to strengthening the central role of the United Nations in responding to international challenges, including the maintenance of international peace and security, sustainable development, and the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The two leaders affirmed their shared commitment to fostering mutual understanding and trust and strengthening stability at the regional and international levels, and agreed that international issues should be resolved only through peaceful diplomatic means and methods.
Noting the important role that Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality foreign policy plays in the development of peaceful, trust-based, friendly and reciprocal inter-state relations, Yoon welcomed the hosting of the International Forum on Peace and Trust in December 2025 in Turkmenistan in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 78/266, adopted on March 21, 2024.
The two sides agreed that a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and the complete denuclearization of the DPRK would contribute to peace and prosperity not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the world.
In this regard, both sides emphasized the importance of fulfilling international obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The President of Turkmenistan expressed his support for the ROK government’s “bold initiative for a nuclear-free, peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders affirmed their similar positions on a number of international and regional issues and agreed to hold regular policy consultations to discuss international relations issues.
The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of interaction in the economic field and decided to expand mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In particular, they agreed to increase joint efforts to enhance cooperation in the fields of gas and chemicals, shipbuilding, textiles, transportation, information and communication, and environmental protection.
Recognizing the important role that cooperation in construction and infrastructure has played in the economic development of both countries, the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral construction and infrastructure cooperation based on the MOU on Infrastructure and New Town Cooperation.
The two leaders agreed to work together to ensure the success of Turkmenistan’s large-scale construction projects, including petrochemical, green plants, and desulfurization facilities.
The two leaders recognized the agreement to increase transit rights as an important milestone in bilateral cooperation and agreed to boost people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The two leaders noted the need to promote cooperation in attracting investment and developing new industries in the energy sector to achieve international carbon neutrality.
In this regard, the two leaders decided to build on the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Turkmenistan, signed on October 31, 2023, to establish mutually beneficial economic cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders welcomed the signing of the MOU on the Framework for Trade and Investment Promotion between the two governments and agreed that an agreement on the mutual promotion and protection of investment between the two countries should be signed as soon as possible.
The two leaders appreciated the contribution of the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum to strengthening mutual trust and revitalizing exchanges between the Republic of Korea and Central Asian countries, and expressed satisfaction that the 16th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was successfully held in Ashgabat in November 2023, contributing to the realization of the unlimited potential of youth for a sustainable future for Korea and Central Asia. The two leaders agreed to work together for the future development of the Forum, and the President of Turkmenistan wished for the successful hosting of the first-ever Korea-Central Asia Summit in 2025.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of developing parliamentary diplomacy between the Republic of Korea and Central Asian countries. In this regard, they welcomed the hosting of the second ROK-Central Asian Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in Ashgabat in the second half of 2024 with the aim of strengthening partnership and mutual trust and trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation to promote peace between the Republic of Korea and Central Asian countries.
The two leaders affirmed the importance of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries as a key means of building strong and long-term bilateral ties, and agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of culture, science, education, health, sports, and tourism.
Turkmenistan’s President invited his South Korean counterpart to participate in an international forum of heads of state to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of prominent Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Fragi.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the results of President Yoon’s state visit and the documents signed during the visit.
President Yoon expressed his gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan for their warm welcome and hospitality, and invited the President of Turkmenistan to visit the Republic of Korea at a mutually convenient time. The President of Turkmenistan accepted the invitation with gratitude. The date of the visit will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.
