South Korea, Turkey agree to boost ties

By Na Jeong-ju

Staff reporter

President Lee Myung-bak and Turkish President Abdullah Gul agreed Tuesday to seek ways to boost bilateral trade and energy ties between Korea and Turkey, the presidential office said.

In a summit at Cheong Wa Dae, they also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and international issues, including security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and Seoul's plan to host the G-20 Summit in November.

Gul pledged support in addressing North Korea's torpedo attack on the South Korean Navy vessel Cheonan in March, expressing condolences to South Korea over the tragedy.

The Turkish leader arrived in Seoul on Monday for a three-day trip and his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2007.

After the summit talks, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate for the building of two nuclear power plants in Turkey's northern region of Sinop.

Should negotiations go smoothly, Korea and Turkey are expected to sign a commercial deal in late 2011, according to Yoon Sang-jik, senior presidential secretary for knowledge economy.

Gul's visit has a special meaning for bolstering bilateral relations as Seoul marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25. Turkey dispatched 15,000 troops to assist South Korea in the 1950-53 war.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the constant development of their time-honored alliance since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957, Cheong Wa Dae said.

"Lee and Gul agreed to make further efforts to expand substantial cooperation in various fields, including bilateral trade and investment, energy, construction, defense and cultural exchanges," it said.