Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hosted Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in Seoul for discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation ahead of an important summit.

According to Anadolu Agency, the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, where discussions will cover strategic resources, supply chains, artificial intelligence (AI), and other future-oriented fields. During a closed-door meeting, President Lee sought President Berdimuhamedow's support for major plant and infrastructure projects in Turkmenistan, as stated by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

The leaders agreed to collaborate on Turkmenistan's initiative to develop a logistics hub connecting Central Asia with the Caspian Sea, aligning with the "resurrection of the great Silk Road." They also discussed expanding cooperation on joint shipbuilding projects, railway construction, and the development of new towns. Effective water management and anti-desertification measures in Turkmenistan were highlighted, with an agreement to strengthen relevant collaboration by leveraging South Korea's smart water management technology.

President Berdimuhamedow expressed appreciation for South Korea's support on the international stage and endorsed President Lee's North Korea initiative, END, which stands for Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization. He emphasized Turkmenistan's commitment to resolving Korean Peninsula issues through peaceful dialogue and diplomatic means.

President Lee expressed gratitude to President Berdimuhamedow for facilitating the evacuation of South Koreans in Iran through Turkmenistan during urgent situations in the Middle East last year and this year. Following their discussions, the two nations signed 13 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering investment promotion, infrastructure projects, joint efforts to combat transnational organized crime, and other areas.