Editor's note: information by Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press release was added
South Korea, Seoul, 14 Dec./ Yonhap News corr. Chang Jae-Soon specially for Trend
Foreign ministers of South Korea and Azerbaijan held talks in Seoul on Tuesday on ways to increase cooperation in economic and cultural sectors as well as on regional and international issues, the foreign ministry said.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov arrived in Seoul earlier Tuesday for a two-day visit that includes talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and meetings with Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae.
The foreign ministry said the two sides discussed ways to boosting substantial cooperation in trade, investment, energy and cultural exchanges and exchanged views on Korean Peninsula issues and other international matters. The ministry did not elaborate.
Ahead of the talks, Kim welcomed Mammadyarov, saying he visited Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, a few times when he was ambassador to Uzbekistan while concurrently serving as ambassador to Azerbaijan. Kim said that oil mining equipment on the coast of Azerbaijan was quite impressive.
Mammadyarov said that relations between the two countries have briskly moved forward since Kim last visited Azerbaijan in 2004 and that he wants to invite Kim to the country next year.
The two ministers planned to have dinner together with South Korean businessmen working in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister noted at the meeting that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to comprehensive development of relations with North Korea as a prosperous country in the region of East Asia, the press center of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported. He also noted the need for more private mutual visits of people of science, culture and business.
Mentioning the high rate of economic cooperation between the two countries, the Korean Minister expressed his country's interest in developing relations with Azerbaijan in the future as well.
According to the Minister, Korea has identified Azerbaijan as a priority country for 2011-2013.
At the meeting, Elmar Mamedyarov informed his counterpart about the negotiation process around the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stated the position of the country to address the problem.
In his turn, Korean Minister informed his counterpart about the processes taking place in the region over recent years, as well as the position of the Republic of Korea.
The sides also noted the need for cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, particularly between the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security Korea.