1. On November 6, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun met bilaterally with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Hajiyev of Turkmenistan, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinara Kemelova of the Kyrgyz Republic, who are on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend the 11th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest between the ROK and Turkmenistan, and the ROK and Kyrgyzstan, including bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and substantive cooperation.

2. In his meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Hajiyev, Vice Minister Cho took note that since forging the mutually-beneficial partnership in 2008, the two countries had steadily developed cooperative relations in energy, resources, transportation, and logistics.

o Vice Minister Cho extended congratulations on the opening ceremony of the Kiyanly gas chemical complex, which took place on October 17 after the project to construct the complex, the first gas chemical complex to utilize natural gas in Turkmenistan, was successfully implemented by Korean companies.

o The two sides agreed to make joint efforts towards the second and third Kiyanly projects by enhancing future-oriented and mutually-beneficial economic cooperation, deepening cooperation in energy and infrastructure, and seeking cooperation projects in transportation and logistics.

o The two sides also took note of the growing interest in Korean cultures, including Taekwondo, in Turkmenistan, and agreed to step up cooperation to build a King Sejong Institute in Turkmenistan in order to offer people in the country more opportunities to learn Korean language.

3. In his bilateral meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kemelova, Vice Minister Cho said that the relations between the two countries had steadily advanced in the political, economic and social sectors, and especially noted that robust cooperation between the two countries was underway in public administration, and healthcare and medical services to improve the quality of life for the people.

o Vice Minister Cho said that there was a great potential for further development of bilateral relations, as the two countries share the values of democracy and market economy. He also voiced hope that people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between the two countries would increase through efforts to promote Kyrgyzstan’s beautiful nature and democratic system in the ROK.

o Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kemelova said that development cooperation projects between the two countries which suit Kyrgyzstan’s national development strategy (2018-2040), including those on electoral capacity building, electronic resident identity card, and national infectious disease hospital, were contributing to the democratization, and economic and social development of the country. She also expressed hoped that the two countries would continue to step up cooperation in a range of areas, including the public sector.

4. In the bilateral meetings, Vice Minister Cho explained the ROK government’s efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and to establish a lasting peace, and expressed appreciation for Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan’s continued support for them. The Deputy Foreign Ministers of the two countries took note that meaningful progress had been made on the Korean Peninsula through inter-Korean dialogues, and expressed support for the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace.

5. The two Deputy Foreign Ministers shared the view that Central Asia is a key cooperation partner in implementing the ROK’s New Northern Policy, and said that they would work together with the ROK to successfully implement the Policy.

6. The bilateral meetings, held on the occasion of the 11th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, served as an opportunity to promote friendship and strengthen substantive cooperation with Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, key cooperation partners in implementing the New Northern Policy.

* unofficial translation