South Korean President Lee Thanks Turkmenistan For Helping Evacuate Citizens From Iran

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung thanked Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow on Tuesday for helping evacuate dozens of South Koreans from Iran during the conflict involving the United States and Iran earlier this year. Lee expressed his gratitude during a summit meeting with Berdimuhamedow at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, held ahead of the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit scheduled for Wednesday. He praised Turkmenistan for allowing South Korean citizens and their families in Iran to safely leave the country through its territory during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

More than 30 South Koreans in Iran were evacuated by land to Turkmenistan in March, shortly after the United States and Israel launched military action against Tehran in late February. Lee said Turkmenistan's assistance during the emergency reflected the strong trust and friendship between the two countries.

Lee also highlighted the progress made in bilateral relations since South Korea and Turkmenistan established a mutually beneficial partnership in 2008. He expressed hope that the relationship would produce more tangible results, particularly by making use of Turkmenistan's natural resources and its strategic location near the Caspian Sea and Central Asia.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh Govt Sets Up Delhi Control Room For Citizens Stranded In Nepal

Berd Berdimuhamedow said Turkmenistan highly valued South Korea's continued support for its initiatives on the international stage. He also expressed support for Seoul's position on key international issues, including Lee's North Korea initiative, known as END, or Exchange, Normalisation and Denuclearisation, and reaffirmed his country's preference for resolving Korean Peninsula issues through peaceful dialogue and diplomatic means.

Following the summit, South Korea and Turkmenistan signed 13 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding covering areas including investment promotion, infrastructure projects and joint responses to transnational organised crime. The agreements are expected to provide a broader framework for expanding practical cooperation between the two countries.

Also Read: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Leaves India After Attending BRICS Summit