Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited South Korean to consolidate mutual relationship between Turkey and South Korea.
President Erdoğan was welcomed by South Korean Protocol officials and Turkish Ambassador to Seoul Ersin Erçin at Seoul Air Base.
Turkey-South Korea Joint Statement: “We have agreed to boost the cooperation between the two countries”
The joint statement, issued following the signing of the agreements as part of President Erdoğan’s visit to the Republic of Korea, read: “The parties noted they have common understanding that bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology and research and development is of crucial importance in order for them to act jointly during the 4th industrial revolution. They, to this end, reached an agreement to speed up the exchange of experts and to seek new opportunities of cooperation in these fields.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in the Republic of Korea for an official visit, attended the signing ceremony of the agreements between the two countries following his tête-à-tête with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and the meetings between the delegations. A joint statement was issued after the signing ceremony at the Blue House.
EXTENSIVE TALKS TO IMPROVE BILATERAL RELATIONS
Stating that the meeting between the leaders and the delegations have further strengthened the friendly ties between the leaders of the two countries, the statement read that President Erdoğan and South Korean President Moon held extensive talks for the further strengthening of the bilateral relations.
According to the statement, the two leaders attribute great importance to reinforcing the Turkey-South Korea cooperation that is based on fraternity that derives strength from the joint struggle the two countries waged during the Korean War; welcome the swift improvement of the bilateral relations in politics and economy as well as in social and cultural affairs; and have agreed to boost the cooperation between the governments and private sectors of the two countries.
The statement read that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Turkey and the Republic of Korea provides an important basis to improve the economic relations and increase the bilateral trade in a more balanced manner; and that the leaders have announced the imminent entrance into force of the Agreements on Investments and Trade in Goods and Services, having agreed to make amendments to the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and to sign as soon as possible the Agreement on Maritime Transport.
NEW AREAS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND SOUTH KOREA
Pointing out that President Erdoğan and President Moon are pleased that the construction works of the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, which has become a symbol of the successful cooperation between the two countries in the field of infrastructure, have been completed successfully and that the project of the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge proceeds fast, the statement stressed that the leaders have reached an agreement to enhance the projects for cooperation in such fields as transportation, infrastructure, energy and defense industry. “The parties noted they have common understanding that bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology and R&D is of crucial importance in order for them to act jointly during the 4th industrial revolution. They, to this end, reached an agreement to speed up the exchange of experts and to seek new opportunities of cooperation in these fields,” the statement underlined.
Referring to the inauguration of the Korean Cultural Center in Ankara in 2011 and the upcoming establishment of the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Seoul, the statement read that the two leaders agreed to intensify the talks in the fields of culture, tourism and education, and continued: “Having reached an agreement to further strengthen the current cooperation, the two leaders welcome the fact that Turkey and the Republic of Korea are in close cooperation not only at bilateral level but also at multilateral platforms including the United Nations. The two leaders also agreed to further empower the MIKTA, which has emerged as a mid-level cooperation mechanism, and to raise the cooperation level within the MIKTA, including by elevating it to the summit level. Confirming the importance of G20 in terms of international economic cooperation, the two leaders agreed to continue their cooperation within G20.”
DENUCLEARIZATION OF KOREAN PENINSULA
President Erdoğan congratulated President Moon for successfully hosting the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and welcomes the Panmunjom Joint Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula, read the statement. President Moon, for his part, emphasized that both South Korea and North Korea declared with the Inter-Korean Summit there would no longer be any war on the Korean Peninsula, and that they decided to open a new path to peace, prosperity and co-existence with the cooperation of the international community, the statement added.
The statement continued as follows: “The two leaders noted with appreciation that the Inter-Korean Summit provides an important basis for the total denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the establishment of peace on the Peninsula, and the sustainable improvement of inter-Korean relations. President Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s full support for the Republic of Korea’s efforts to turn a new page, which will contribute to bringing about peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and the world. The two leaders agreed to cooperate on such global issues as the peace and stability of the world as well as terror and refugee crisis. The two leaders exchanged views on the latest situation in the Middle East, including Palestine and Syria, and emphasized the need for the international community’s joint efforts towards finding a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict and putting an end to the humanitarian crisis. President Moon welcomed with great appreciation Turkey’s efforts to find a solution to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and to end the conflict.”
The statement added that President Erdoğan thanked for the warm hospitality and invited President Moon to Turkey and that President Moon accepted with pleasure the invitation.
VISIT TO NATIONAL CEMETERY
President Erdoğan paid a visit to the National Cemetery following his meeting with President Moon. Laying a wreath at the cemetery, President Erdoğan lit incense for the deceased, observed a minute of silence and signed the memorial book.
President Erdoğan aslo visited the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea:
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in the South Korean capital city of Seoul, paid a visit to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Meeting with Speaker Chung Syekyun, President Erdoğan made statements regarding his official visit to the Republic of Korea. Expressing his pleasure to meet with Speaker Chung Syekyun, President Erdoğan highlighted the historical aspect of the strong ties between Turkey and South Korea.
BILATERAL RELATIONS ELEVATED TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN 2012
Saying that they took some important decisions during his tête-à-tête with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and the meeting between delegations, President Erdoğan stated that four agreements were signed between Turkey and South Korea and that they discussed what further steps might be taken in the future in many fields.
Turkey and South Korea elevated their bilateral relations to the Strategic Partnership level in 2012, recalled President Erdoğan, stressing that they aim to further strengthen these relations not only in the field of politics but also in the fields of economy, trade, science, technology and culture. Pointing to the shared will of Turkey and South Korea in this regard, President Erdoğan underlined that the two countries also make contributions to the solution of global issues through their active roles in such international organizations as the United Nations and G20.
CURRENT BILATERAL TRADE VOLUME FAR BEHIND TRUE POTENTIAL
Drawing attention to the importance of the intensification of talks between the parliaments of Turkey and South Korea, President Erdoğan stated that they would feel highly pleased to host Speaker Chung Syekyun in Turkey as a guest of the Turkish Parliament. Referring to Turkey and South Korea’s goal of becoming one of top 10 countries of the world, President Erdoğan highlighted that the current bilateral trade volume of 7 billion dollars lags far behind the two countries’ true potential and added that the signing of the free trade agreement as soon as possible would thus be highly beneficial.
Also touching upon South Korea’s participation in many mega-projects in Turkey, President Erdoğan cited the Çanakkale 1915 Bridge, which will be the longest suspension bridge in the world once its construction is completed, and the Canal Istanbul as some of these projects, and added that South Korea’s participation in the Canal Istanbul project will be a source of pride for Turkey.
During his visit, President Erdoğan also received Hyundai executives
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in South Korean capital city of Seoul for an official visit, received executives of South Korea-based construction company SK Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. and Hyundai.
Also present at the reception were Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, Chairman of Board of Directors of Limak Holding Nihat Özdemir and other officials.
During his visit to the Republic of Korea, President Erdoğan was accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, Minister of Customs and Trade Bülent Tüfenkci, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Culture and Tourism Numan Kurtulmuş, Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Hakan Fidan, President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş and Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Presidency Ambassador İbrahim Kalın.
Source: Presidency