On 17 May 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left for a working visit to China in order to participate in the Central Asia–China Summit, to be held in Xi’an on 19 May.
Within the framework of the current working visit, a meeting of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov with Chinese President Xi Jinping is planned. Following the results of the summit talks, it is planned to sign a number of documents that will enrich the legal framework of bilateral cooperation.
At the Ashgabat airport before departure, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in an interview with a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Turkmenistan, stressed the strategic nature of the interstate partnership covering a wide range of areas, including trade, economic, oil and gas and other spheres, cultural and humanitarian field.
It is noteworthy that this is the second visit of the President of Turkmenistan to China this year, which clearly demonstrates the regular nature of contacts at the highest level, contributing to the progressive development of interstate relations.
By actively interacting on global and regional platforms, Turkmenistan and China demonstrate closeness or coincidence of positions on key issues of our time, systematically supporting each other in promoting particularly relevant proposals and initiatives.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 6 January 1992, Beijing and Ashgabat have worked out an optimal formula for interstate dialogue with a long–term perspective. Over the past period, a solid legal framework of the partnership has been created, regular contacts are carried out at the highest, governmental and parliamentary levels, through business circles.
A new effective step towards the development of strategic partnership was the state visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to China, which took place in January this year. As a result of the summit talks, important agreements were reached and a large package of documents was signed.
The fuel and energy sector has been identified as one of the priority areas of bilateral cooperationThe implemented grandiose project of the twenty-first century – the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline – is a striking example of an effective combination of efforts. Today, work is underway to increase the volume of Turkmen gas supplies to China.
The transport and transit sphere and logistics are also identified among the key vectors of cooperation. Of course, Turkmenistan and China have all the opportunities for building a joint transport strategy focused on the optimal use of the combined geographical, resource, economic potential and advantages to enter new markets.
Along with constructive political dialogue, productive trade and economic ties, fruitful humanitarian contacts, including in the fields of education, science and culture, healthcare and sports, are an integral part of Turkmen-Chinese relations.
The Central Asia-China Summit is of particular importance in terms of developing interstate cooperation and establishing priorities in light of changing realities and future opportunities.
It is symbolic that the city of Xi’an was chosen as the venue of the forum. This large industrial, business, cultural and education hub in ancient times was the starting point and destination of trade caravans that passed along the Great Silk Road through the territory of Central Asia, connecting China and the parts of the region.
It is also noteworthy that the city of Xi’an is a sister city of Mary. The corresponding agreement was signed in May 2014./// nCa, 18 May 2023