Visiting President Yoon Suk Yeol and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow on June 10 hold a bilateral summit at the latter's presidential palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin

Korea and Turkmenistan on June 10 agreed to upgrade their mutually beneficial partnership to promote joint prosperity.

This was part of a joint declaration announced by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who arrived that day in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat for a state visit, and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow after their bilateral summit at Oguzhan Palace. 

President Berdimuhamedow supported the Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road Initiative, Seoul's first strategy for Central Asia. The two sides also agreed to closely cooperate to implement this plan.

They pledged to strengthen the key role of the United Nations (U.N.) in responding to global issues through measures like maintenance of global peace and security, sustainable development, and prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The Office of the President in Seoul said both presidents agreed that only peaceful and diplomatic means and methods should be used to resolve international problems.

On North Korea, they said a peaceful resolution of the North's nuclear issue and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will contribute not only to peace and prosperity in the region but also the world.

They also emphasized the importance of fulfilling international duties based on U.N. Security Council resolutions.

President Berdimuhamedow expressed support for Korea's "audacious initiative" for the denuclearization, peace and prosperity of the peninsula.

In economy, the two leaders pledged to reinforce bilateral cooperation in gas, chemicals, shipbuilding, textiles, shipping, information and communications, and environmental protection.

They also promised to raise collaboration based on a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in infrastructure and new cities, as well as in petrochemicals, eco-friendly plants and desulfurization facilities.

The two presidents agreed on the importance of advancing legislative diplomacy between Korea and Central Asian nations, and welcomed the hosting of the second parliamentary conference between both sides slated for the second half of this year in Ashgabat.

They also confirmed the need for human exchanges between the two sides to build long-term bilateral relations and pledged to expand cooperation in culture, science, education, public health, sports and tourism.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr