President Lee Jae Myung (left) on Nov. 24 shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at their bilateral summit held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. (Yonhap News)

By Charles Audouin

President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Nov. 24 agreed to bolster cooperation in sectors like the defense industry, nuclear power plants and renewable energy in their bilateral talks at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

In a joint news release, President Lee began by saying, "I find it truly meaningful to be visiting our 'brotherly nation' of Turkiye this year, which marks both the 75th anniversary of its participation in the Korean War and my first year in office."

"Moreover, we had extensive discussions on how to strengthen our solidarity in response to the rapidly changing regional and international landscape."

Both leaders first agreed to raise bilateral cooperation in the defense industry.

"First, we agreed to continue cooperation – based on mutual trust – on joint production, technological collaboration and personnel training exchanges, among others, as we work toward emerging as leading defense industry powers," President Lee said. "Through these efforts, we hope to create more success stories of cooperation, like the Altay Main Battle Tank production program, thereby enhancing the defense capabilities of both countries and contributing to peace and security."

"In the nuclear energy sector, both governments agreed to remain engaged and provide support in order to ensure that the remaining detailed evaluation processes for Turkiye's new nuclear power plant project proceed as planned," he added. "I look forward to Korea's outstanding nuclear technology and operational safety capabilities contributing substantially to the development of Turkiye's nuclear energy."

Another sector on the list of potential collaboration areas was bio. "I am pleased that SK Plasma (of Korea) is participating in Turkiye's initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in blood products," President Lee said. "Notably, this project is all the more significant given the blood-forged bond that unites our two countries. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude to President Erdogan for his interest in the participation of a Korean company."

Both leaders also stressed cooperation in renewable energy, artificial intelligence and digital technology. They expressed hope for bilateral cooperation in new and renewable energy to further expand, especially with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in wind power generation between Korea's CS Wind and Turkiye's Enerjisa.

To regularly review developments in cooperation by sector, the two sides will resume a bilateral economic committee after a 10-year hiatus to thoroughly review progress in collaboration across sectors. They also signed MOUs on cooperation in veterans' affairs and construction of roads and infrastructure.

"I find it truly meaningful to have adopted and to announce a Joint Statement on a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Turkiye," President Lee said. "I am confident that this joint statement will provide a good guidance for the smooth implementation of the matters discussed at today's summit."

President Lee's state visit is the first by a Korean leader to Turkiye in 13 years. Both countries forged diplomatic relations in 1957. 

caudouin@korea.kr