Interregional Cooperation with East Asia: Results of the Seoul Meetings

On April 10, 2026, an important meeting of high-ranking officials of the "Central Asia – Republic of Korea" cooperation forum was held in Seoul. The delegation of Turkmenistan was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov. This meeting served as a key stage in preparing for the first "Central Asia – Republic of Korea" Summit, which is expected to open a new chapter in the region's history. During the session, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Ms. Yi Hye-ceclia Chung, the active participation of the Turkmen side was particularly noted. In his speech, Ahmet Gurbanov emphasized: - Turkmenistan is among the first states to support the initiative to hold the inaugural Summit in Seoul; - This forum is viewed as an effective platform for strengthening multilateral relations and aligning economic interests. Key Areas of Discussion The parties expect the upcoming Summit to yield practical rather than just diplomatic results. The core of the negotiations focused on: - Economy and Investment: Expanding trade relations and creating new investment mechanisms. - Humanitarian Relations: Enhancing cultural, educational, and technological exchanges. - Final Documents: Agreements on enriching the content of the documents to be adopted during the Summit. High-Level Meetings On the same day, the Turkmen delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Cho Tae-yul. During this meeting, great confidence was expressed that the upcoming Summit would give a new impetus to interregional cooperation. The sides discussed organizational and protocol issues, including the schedule of side events to be held within the framework of the Summit.