(Xinhua/Shen Hong)
China and Turkmenistan should expand the scope of cooperation in the natural gas sector and strengthen trade and investment, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Beijing on Wednesday.
Xi made the remarks during a meeting with National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, adding that the two sides should expand cooperation in areas other than natural resources, including connectivity, agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital economy and clean energy.
China’s recently held “two sessions” successfully approved the program of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, Xi noted.
Xi said the implementation of the program will lay a solid foundation for China to essentially realize socialist modernization, bringing benefits to countries around the world.
In the 35 years since its independence, Turkmenistan has formed an independent development path suited to its national conditions, Xi noted.
At the start of the Year of the Horse, China is ready to discuss cooperation and share development opportunities with Turkmenistan, so as to promote the building of a China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future, he said.
Stressing that mutual support is the fundamental essence of the China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said that no matter how the international situation develops, China will always support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Furthermore, China will always support Turkmenistan in pursuing a policy of permanent neutrality and remain a trustworthy partner of Turkmenistan.
Both sides should accelerate the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s development strategy, he noted, calling on both sides to accelerate the progress of establishing Luban workshops, traditional Chinese medicine centers and cultural centers.
China and Turkmenistan must resolutely fight against the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism, to ensure a security environment for the development of the two countries, Xi said.
As many global challenges continue to emerge, China is ready to cooperate with Turkmenistan to firmly uphold the status and authority of the United Nations and put true multilateralism into practice.
Xi called on both sides to adhere to a global governance philosophy emphasizing broad consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and lead the transformation of global governance based on the principles of fairness, justice, openness and inclusiveness.
For his part, Berdimuhamedov expressed congratulations on the smooth conduct of China’s “two sessions”, during which important decisions and arrangements were made for the development of various initiatives.
Noting that China’s prosperity and development benefits the whole world, he said cooperation between Turkmenistan and China has become an important and positive factor for the economic and social development of the two countries and serves the long-term interests of the two peoples.
Turkmenistan will, as always, uphold the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen the alignment of its development strategies with those of China, expand pragmatic cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and connectivity, among others, seek common development and prosperity, as well as promote security and stability, Berdimuhamedov said.
He added that Turkmenistan thanks China for its support for Turkmenistan’s permanent neutral status, welcomes the four global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the fair position taken by China in international affairs.
Turkmenistan is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within multilateral platforms, such as the United Nations and the China-Central Asia Mechanism, to jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the region and the world as a whole, Berdimuhamedov said.
