Turkmenistan pays great attention to strengthening mutually beneficial partnership with the Republic of Korea, as one of the developed countries of the planet.  President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said this at a meeting last week with the new Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea to Turkmenistan Shin Sung-chul, who presented his credentials to the head of our state.

Having emphasized the great importance attached to cooperation with the countries of the Central Asian region, where Turkmenistan occupies a leading position, the ambassador expressed his country's interest in further developing interstate dialogue with our country.

 A special emphasis at the meeting was placed on the implementation of the agreements reached to further deepen partnership in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.

 As noted, the development of interstate dialogue is facilitated by regular contacts at the highest level.  Thus, the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in made a state visit to Turkmenistan in April 2019, from which he began his tour of Central Asia after assuming a high office.

 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov mentioned that he intended to pay a return visit to the Republic of Korea immediately after the interstate borders were opened and favorable external conditions were created for the next summit meeting.

 Within the framework of the meeting, the work of the Central Asia – Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum, as well as the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Korean Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Joint Turkmen-Korean Business Council were highly appreciated.

 It was also noted that in recent years, the activities of Korean business structures, which successfully work in the petrochemical, gas processing, motor transport and other industries of Turkmenistan, have been intensifying.  In particular, the Korean companies «LG» and «Hyundai» have been successfully operating in the oil and gas and transport sectors of Turkmenistan for many years.

 Among the strategic projects successfully completed with the participation of Korean partners, the construction of a natural gas treatment plant at the Galkynysh field, installations for the production of high-octane motor gasoline at the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries, and a polymer plant in the village of Kiyanly in the Balkan region for the production of polypropylene and polyethylene.