Ï Experience and potential of the Turkmen-Korean cooperation
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Experience and potential of the Turkmen-Korean cooperation

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Within the framework of the Central Asian tour, the head of Republic of Korea Pak Kyn Khe arrived in the Turkmen capital on a state visit. Summit negotiations and signing of new bilateral documents opened new stage in successive development of traditional Turkmen-Korean partnership.

Diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea were established in February 1992. In 2007, it was opened the Embassy of Republic of Korea in Ashgabat and in 2013 – the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Seoul. Visit of prime minister of Republic of Korea to Ashgabat in May 2008 became significant landmark in the history of bilateral relations. In the course of the meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, it was discussed wide range of issues related to priority trends of economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, creation of bilateral intergovernmental commission, opening of air communications between two countries, learning of the Korean language at one of the higher educational establishments of Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen party expressed particular interest in experience and attainments of Republic of Korea in the field of high technologies and industry, in particular, in oil and gas, petrochemical sectors, textile industry, machine building, shipbuilding, construction and other spheres. The Korean party emphasized the readiness to offer Turkmenistan all their experience in the field of modern technologies and international trade, banking sector and in the sphere of communication as well as in modernization of old and construction of new power stations, development of hydrocarbon deposits of sea blocks of the Caspian Sea, creation of pipeline and transport infrastructure. According to the results of visit, it was signed 9 documents.

The first meeting of two leaders in August 2008 in Beijing within the framework of participation in solemn opening ceremony of XXIX Summer Olympic Games was a start for effective political dialogue between the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea. During negotiations, it was discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, expressed the striving to stir up interstate interaction. The state visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Republic of Korea in November of the same year attached powerful impetus to the development of the Turkmen-Korean interaction, having created the contract and legal basis for further advancement of political dialogue, economic cooperation, expansion of cultural and humanitarian contacts. Packet of documents signed as a result of negotiations of the heads of two states related to the development of cooperation in the sphere of culture, opening of air communication between capitals, creation of intergovernmental Turkmen-Korean commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation also included Memorandum of Understanding between foreign-policy departments and Agreement on mutual refusal from visa requirements for owners of diplomatic passports.

Joint Communiqué of Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea reads that the Presidents of two countries share the opinion on further development of economic cooperation between their states, particularly in the fields of transport, communications, construction, textile industry and financial system. The parties also reached agreement on creation of favorable conditions for trade, scientific-technological exchange, and increase of mutual investments, realization of cooperation in the field of information and computer technologies, rational use of natural resources and environmental protection as well as on necessity of establishment of direct business ties between economic and business partners of two countries.

Within the last years, reached agreements and arrangements have been successfully realized in many spheres. On the international arena, Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea render mutual support and confidence to each other, particularly within the framework of interaction in the United Nations Organization. So, in December 2008, Republic of Korea rendered to our country an active support as co-sponsor of international initiative of the President of Turkmenistan on adoption of Resolution of the UN General Assembly on reliable and safe transit of energy bearers to the world markets. Governmental structures of Turkmenistan jointly with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) arranged an activity within the framework of programs on exchange of experience and knowledge in various fields of economy and social sphere.

“Hyundai” busses appeared on the streets of Ashgabat. Korean companies actively participate in major investment projects, being realized in key sectors of Turkmen economy, for example, in construction of over 3-billion 432-million US dollars worth new gas-chemical complex in Kiyanly settlement on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, which will produce 386 thousand tons of polyethylene and 81 thousand tons of polypropylene per year. Consortium of the Korean companies “LG International Corp” and “Hyundai Engineering” together with the Japanese “TOYO Engineering Corporation” take part in realization of this large project. For financing of construction of gas-chemical complex, at the State Bank for foreign economic activity of Turkmenistan, it was signed credit agreements to the total sum of over 2.5 billion US dollars with the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation, Export-Import Bank of Korea and syndicate of participating financial institutes of Japan, Germany, France, Korea, China, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.

If mutual benefit, complementarity of interests and possibilities served as the mover of economic partnership, then cultural-humanitarian cooperation is based on common features of the eastern mentality and traditions, on mutual interest in ancient culture and attainments of the Turkmen and Korean people. It is expressed in exchange of artistic groups, organization of creative festivals, participation in the conferences and symposiums and others. In 2009, Days of Culture of Republic of Korea in Turkmenistan were held in Ashgabat, and Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in South Korea took place in Seoul. Among different actions held by the Embassy of Republic of Korea with a view of familiarization of Turkmen residents with life and culture of the Korean people, it is worth mentioning the presentation of Korean cuisine. Close partnership was arranged with Association “Central Asia-Korea”.

Opening in 2008 of department of Korean language at the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after D. Azadi became an important event in the sphere of education. It is expanded bilateral ties in the sphere of public health and medical industry, environmental protection, tourism and sports. For example, Korean martial art – taekwondo wide spread all over the world enjoys wide popularity in Turkmenistan as well.

Regular Turkmen-Korean summit meeting will attach greater dynamics to all-round cooperation of Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea, which being based on accumulated positive experience, can fully realize huge potential of partnership and bring it to higher level.

So, besides Joint Statement of Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea and other documents, it was signed in Ashgabat the agreements between “Turkmengas” State Concern and “LG International Corp.” and “Hyundai Engineering Co.Ltd.” Company related to the projects of construction in Turkmenistan of the plant for processing gas into liquid fuel and gas-chemical complex, Memorandum of Understanding between “Turkmengas” State Concern and “LG International Corp.” on realization of polyethylene and polypropylene produced by gas-chemical plant in Kiyanly.

It was also made the agreements on cooperation between the Ministry of Motor Transport of Turkmenistan and “Hyundai” Corporation of Republic of Korea; between Main State Service “Turkmenstandartlary” and Korean Agency on technology and standards. It was passed the interstate documents on cooperation in the field of agriculture and between foreign-policy departments of two countries.

These agreements open good prospects for development of mutually beneficial relations owing to creation of new model of cooperation, allowing fully uniting all advantages of two countries and getting from them practical output.