President Lee: "Turkmenistan's Resources to Become High-Value Industries... Together for a New Path in Logistics and Trade" (Comprehensive)

Korea-Turkmenistan Expanded Summit: "Maximizing Strengths to Create New Opportunities"

Korean Companies Invited to Participate in Plant and Railway Modernization Projects

President Berdimuhamedov: "Supports E.N.D Initiative... All Korean Pen

On the 15th, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "The Republic of Korea will work together to ensure that Turkmenistan's abundant resources lead to high value-added industries and jobs, and that its land, connecting the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, becomes a new hub for logistics and trade."

President Lee Jae-myung and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan are holding an expanded summit meeting at the Blue House on the 15th. 2026.9.15 Yonhap News Agency

President Lee made these remarks during an expanded summit with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Blue House the same day, adding, "Our government will firmly support both countries in maximizing each other's strengths and opening new opportunities together."

This reflects a plan to expand cooperation beyond the traditional focus on resources and plant sectors, into high value-added industries, logistics, and transport infrastructure. On the occasion of the summit, both countries signed a total of 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs), covering areas such as investment protection, chemical and plant industries, water resources, infrastructure, and railways.

Regarding the outcomes of the preliminary small-group talks, President Lee explained, "We agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation to develop the bilateral relationship in a more mutually beneficial and solid manner in the future."

President Lee also emphasized that since establishing a "mutually beneficial partnership" in 2008, the two countries have continued to build a substantive foundation for cooperation. He said, "Now, by building upon this cooperation, I hope we can work together to achieve tangible results in the growth of both nations and the lives of our people." He added, "I expect today’s talks to be a new starting point for strengthening cooperation in diverse fields between our two countries."

President Lee expressed his gratitude for Turkmenistan’s support during the worsening situation in the Middle East, when it assisted in the evacuation of Korean nationals. President Lee said, "Last year and this year, as the situation in the Middle East became increasingly urgent, I sincerely thank you, Mr. President, and the government of Turkmenistan once again for taking special care to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and their families in Iran through Turkmenistan." He continued, "The warm support extended to us during difficult times has truly demonstrated the deep trust and friendship between our two nations."

President Lee Jae-myung and President Serdar Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan are shaking hands ahead of the expanded summit at the Blue House on September 15, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

President Berdimuhamedov, who highlighted that this visit was his first state visit to Korea, responded, "This will serve as a very meaningful opportunity to further advance bilateral cooperation in the future." He also publicly expressed his support for President Lee’s "E.N.D Initiative" regarding North Korea.

President Berdimuhamedov said, "I would like to reiterate our support for the 'E.N.D Initiative,' which is an acronym based on the English words for normalization of exchange relations and denuclearization, as proposed by the President." He added, "We have consistently maintained that all issues on the Korean Peninsula should be resolved through peaceful dialogue and diplomatic means, and we will continue to do so."

President Berdimuhamedov further praised Korea for supporting Turkmenistan’s status as a permanently neutral state, and for continuously backing Turkmenistan’s initiatives in the international arena. In particular, he expressed gratitude for Korea’s support and co-sponsorship of Turkmenistan’s "International Year of Peace through International Law 2028" resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Senior Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung’s written briefing, energy and plant sector cooperation was discussed in the subsequent closed meeting. In this meeting, President Lee requested President Berdimuhamedov’s support in allowing Korean companies, drawing on their accumulated experience and technology, to participate in Turkmenistan’s large-scale plant and infrastructure projects.

The two leaders also found common ground in the vision that Turkmenistan’s "Great Silk Road Revival" strategy—its national logistics hub plan—could become a new engine of growth connecting Central Asia and the Caspian Sea. They agreed to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation by jointly building ships locally in Turkmenistan, and to translate the bilateral potential in areas such as railways and new city construction into actual results.

Additionally, President Lee requested President Berdimuhamedov’s continued interest and cooperation so that Korean companies, armed with advanced technology and experience, could participate in Turkmenistan’s modernization projects in the future. President Lee also agreed that effective water resource management and combating desertification are key national tasks for Turkmenistan, where much of the land is desert, and agreed to strengthen cooperation by linking Korea’s smart water management technology with Turkmenistan’s needs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.