Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, have engaged in talks aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas including trade, nuclear energy, and infrastructure. This meeting, held in Seoul, also addressed regional security concerns, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions were part of efforts to review progress on initiatives agreed upon during a previous summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last November. Notably, Fidan's visit is the first by a Turkish foreign minister to South Korea in five years.
During their discussions, the ministers delved into major security issues such as developments on the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the Middle East, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. They also explored potential collaboration in defense, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, with a commitment to continue consultations for early tangible outcomes.
The dialogue also covered plans to expand people-to-people exchanges, including student exchange programs. Fidan emphasized the strong bond between South Korea and Turkey, rooted in their historical ties dating back to the 1950-53 Korean War, and expressed optimism about further strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
In anticipation of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the ministers agreed to organize commemorative events aimed at reinforcing the ties between the two nations.