President Moon Jae-in (right) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to their summit, at Cheong Wa Dae on May 2.

By Min Yea-Ji and Sohn JiAe 

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae 

President Moon Jae-in and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a joint press statement following their summit on May 2, which outlined ways to further develop bilateral cooperation across various areas, including business, the arts and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.

President Moon welcomed the Turkish leader’s state visit, a first after the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, as the visit was made to celebrate the ongoing “spring on the peninsula.” 

The two leaders acknowledged that the Inter-Korean Summit has marked a very important turning point for the sake of “the establishment of complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the sustainable development of inter-Korean relations.”

President Erdogan lauded the Inter-Korean Summit as “a very important meeting that completely eliminated fear of war.” He then stressed that his government is fully and resolutely supporting Korea’s efforts to open a new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and even beyond, in Northeast Asia and around the whole world. 

Aside from inter-Korean issues, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations across such areas as business, energy, IT, society, the arts, education and healthcare. 

Expressing his gratitude for the hospitality that President Moon and the Korean people have shown him, President Erdogan asked that President Moon visit his country sometime soon. In response, President Moon said he was happy to accept the invitation. 

The presidential couples of Korea and Turkey attend a welcome dinner at Cheong Wa Dae on May 2.

***