A meeting of the heads of foreign affairs departments was held in Ashgabat within the framework of the “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” cooperation format, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The ministers discussed current issues on the regional and international agenda, as well as prospects for cooperation in the field of youth interaction.

Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, speaking at the meeting, emphasized that the potential of youth in the process of forming sustainable development should be realized by intensifying their participation both in the implementation of national plans and programs, and by expanding international cooperation in this area.

During the meeting, the Turkmen side outlined the expediency in the near future to focus joint activities on strengthening ties along the youth line and to formulate a Strategy for international cooperation between the youth of the Central Asian states and the Republic of Korea, the main components of which should be concentrated on such key areas as education and science, sports and culture.

The development of economic ties was named one of the priority tasks of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea. The parties emphasized that the presence of Korean companies in the region and the implementation of joint projects in various fields can have a significant and positive impact on the development of Central Asia and open up new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Following the Forum, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea adopted a Joint Statement and also approved the Work Plan of the Forum Secretariat for 2024. The next meeting of the Forum in this format will be held in 2024 in the Republic of Korea.