Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow have agreed to enhance the cooperative relationship between South Korea and Turkmenistan during a recent phone conversation, as reported by the presidential office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this conversation marked the first direct communication between President Lee and President Berdimuhamedow. During the call, President Lee highlighted the progress in bilateral relations since the establishment of a partnership in 2008 and emphasized the importance of further strengthening these ties, as noted by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a written briefing.

President Lee expressed gratitude to President Berdimuhamedow for Turkmenistan's assistance in evacuating South Korean nationals from Iran through Turkmenistan in June, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

In response, President Berdimuhamedow advocated for collaborative efforts to enhance relations not only between South Korea and Turkmenistan but also with the broader Central Asian region, especially following the inauguration of the new Seoul government, according to spokesperson Kang.

Both leaders concurred on the necessity to broaden their cooperation in the energy and plant industry sectors and agreed to coordinate closely in preparation for the South Korea-Central Asia summit scheduled for next year.