This year Turkmenistan is celebrating two significant dates: the 30th anniversary of Independence and the 26th Anniversary of Neutralityof Turkmenistan.

As the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated during an interview in May 2021,Turkmenistan's gaining its independence was a logical continuation of its ancient history. According to historical evidences, facts and documents, being stateforming people, Turkmens actively and directly participated in creation and successful development of a number of state formations in Central and South Asia, Middle East during centuries.

The year 1991 became a milestone that marked the return of the Turkmen people to the path of sovereign development. The people of independent Turkmenistan have again found an internal foothold, they saw the meaning and historical perspective of their existence in the conditions of their own statehood. They have felt a high responsibility for the fate of the state and prospects of future generations. According to the President of Turkmenistan, this condition revealedthebestfe aturesofthemultinationalpeopleo fourcountry: patriotism, dignity, diligence, humanismandrespectfo rtheancestors' memory, tolerance, andreadinesstohelp.All this helped not only to go through the first and the most important period after gaining independence without shocks, but also to transition quickly enough to sustainable political, economic and social growth.

In 1995 Turkmenistan got a status of permanent neutrality acknowledged by the United Nations. The neutrality statushas been recognizedtwice at the UN. Turkmenistan supports neutral and friendly relations with other countries and actively participates in the efforts of international community in addressing existing issues, strengthening peace, security and cooperation. With the proposal of Turkmenistan, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming this year as International Year of Peace and Trust. In doing so, our country attaches great importance to the United Nations. 

As we know on September 14, 2021, the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York began its work. In the framework of this session, Turkmenistan, unswervingly adhering to the universal norms of international law, first and foremost the Charter of the United Nations, will take a number of specific practical steps aimed at strengthening multilateralism in intergovernmental relations and the world economy. The work will be continuedon international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan addressing the challenges on regional and international agendas.

The focus of Turkmenistan's activity on development of agreed multilateral approaches and practical implementation of global strategies and programs will be determined, in relevant areas, by its membership in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the UN Commission on Population and Development, the UN Commission on Social Development.

Turkmenistan considers the 76th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations as an important stage in the consistent consolidation of international efforts to address key issues on the global agenda, confirming the central and coordinating role of the UN in maintaining and strengthening universal peace, stability and security, and the full implementation of the declared Sustainable Development Goals.

During the forthcoming session of the General Assembly Turkmenistan will be guided by strict adherence to the principles of neutrality, noninterference, firm commitment to peaceful, political means of solving conflicts and contradictions.

The priority positions of Turkmenistan at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, international initiatives and proposals determine the approaches of the country to active interaction with all member states of the Organization, bodies, institutions, agencies and institutions of the UN.

Turkmenistan will continue its efforts to strengthen the central and coordinating role of the United Nations, which is the only universal platform for developing compromise solutions based of equal dialogue, and calls on all partners to work together effectively for the sake of the high ideals of peace and justice and the realization of global goals and objectives.

On the international arena, Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea render mutual support and confidence to each other, particularly within the framework of interaction in the United Nations Organization. In December 2008, the Republic of Korea rendered an active support as co-sponsor of international initiative of the President of Turkmenistan on the adoption of Resolution of the UN General Assembly on reliable and safe transit of energy bearers to the world markets.

Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea share same or similar positions on issues of international policy; there are no any disagreements between the countries.The strengthening the confidence building measures in Asia and creating an enabling political environment to promote relations between states in accordance with the recognized norms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations were the key aspects of the dialogue between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea during the talks of state leaders and government delegations of both countries on the regularly base.

Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea also developed strong bilateral cooperation. The diplomatic ties between Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea were established in February 1992. Since then, for the past 29 years both countries developed their successful cooperation in the field of trade and economy, culture, education, sports. etc. Agreements and arrangements have been successfully realized or under realization in many spheres.

It is well known that the world economy is currently experiencing not the best of times. Under these conditions, a close consolidation of the efforts of two states is necessary. An innovative approach to the further development of trade, technological, investment, and financial cooperation is required. This, in turn, is associated with the formation of a new image of the geo-economy on the Eurasian continent as a whole. This is an objective process, and its main content is the diversification of economic ties. Therefore, any constructive strategies aimed at development and implemented in the course of such a process should complement each other on the basis of combinability of long-term goals.

In this regard, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in his address to the participants of the International Forum on Northern Economic Cooperation held in Seoul on October 30 last year noted Turkmenistan's respectful and friendly attitude to the "New Northern Economic Policy". This important initiative of the Republic of Korea is very much in line with the concept of "Revival of the Great Silk Road", which is being implemented by Turkmenistan today. This concept is clearly in line with the peace-loving nature of Turkmenistan and its active domestic and foreign policies.

Today major Korean companies are operating successfully in various sectors of Turkmen economy. The ambitious projects implemented jointly with the companies include the construction of industrial facilities on Turkmen gas and oils, transport and construction fields. Most of the public transport fleet of Turkmenistan is composed of Korean buses and motorcars. The Republic of Korea is one of Turkmenistan's major foreign trade partner.There are 26 enterprises with Korean capital operating at the territory of Turkmenistan and 13 projects with the participation of Korean companies worth over 11 million US dollars have been registered.In 2018, the volume of mutual trade amounted to more than 40 million US dollars showing consistent growing tendency.

Turkmenistan is interested infurther participation of Koreancompanies in economic projects,as creating and equippingmodernproduction,social andcultural facilities, modernizingtransport and informationtechnologies.

There are many promisingindustries where Korean companiescan take an active part in theimplementation of projects inthese areas.Turkmenistan investsin infrastructure projects, supportscreation of industrial enterprisesof various forms of ownership, equipped with the latest technologiesand producing products competitivein the world market, provides loansto the private sector on favorableterms, attracts foreign investors andfirms so that they could share theirexperience.

The development of the electricpower industry, the construction ofnew and reconstruction of existingpower plants, a number of industrialenterprises for the production ofiodine and bromine in the chemicalindustry, as well as the developmentof transport and communicationscomplex are among the priorityareasbetween our countries.

Turkmenistan and Republic of Korea can serve as a basis for thefurther development of mutuallybeneficial relations through creationof new model of cooperation, thatallow to combine all advantages of two countries and getting from thempractical output.

Ambassador of Turkmenistan to KoreaMyrat Mammetalyyev