On the afternoon 18 May 2023, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Xi’an.
The head of Turkmenistan is on a working visit to Xi’an to participate in the China-Central Asia summit.
Xi Jinping noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Turkmenistan 31 years ago, the two countries have always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutually beneficial cooperation in order to develop friendly cooperation.
In January of this year, the President of Turkmenistan paid a state visit to China, during which the heads of state announced an upgrade of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and confirmed their readiness to realize the idea of the community of a common destiny at the bilateral level, which opened a new page in the history of the development of Chinese-Turkmen relations.
Xi Jinping stressed that China firmly supports Turkmenistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and strongly supports Turkmenistan in pursuing a development path that is in line with its own national conditions.
China has always been a trusted friend and partner of Turkmenistan, the Chinese leader said.
Xi underlined that both sides should make full use of their complementary advantages, unlock the potential of cooperation and comprehensively enhance the depth, breadth and scale of cooperation.
China is willing to expand cooperation with Turkmenistan in areas such as economy, trade, natural gas, and interconnection, expand high-tech cooperation in communications, aerospace, etc., and support more Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Turkmenistan.
Touching upon the topic of humanitarian cooperation, the Chinese side suggests holding Days of Culture of Turkmenistan and China this year and next in order to deepen exchanges between the two peoples.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China looks forward to working together with the five countries to make successful this China-Central Asia Summit, to promote the steady development of China-Central Asia cooperation, and to maintain peace, stability and long-term stability in Central Asia.
In turn, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressed the existence of broad prospects for the development of Turkmen-Chinese relations based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and mutually beneficial results.
Turkmenistan highly appreciates the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and is ready to cooperate with China in aligning the strategy of the Revival of the Silk Road with the Belt and Road Initiative, the Turkmen side said.
In addition, Turkmenistan is ready to deepen cooperation with China in such key areas as energy and innovation, and intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
According to the head of Turkmenistan, the China-Central Asia mechanism will provide new opportunities for deepening friendship and cooperation, and is of great significance to the world.
Turkmenistan aims to cooperate closely with the Chinese side to jointly address challenges and promote regional security, stability, development and prosperity.
After the meeting, in the presence of the two heads of state, a number of documents were signed on bilateral cooperation in the scientific and technology, customs spheres, mass media and between political parties of the two countries.///nCa, 18 May 2023 (based on press release issued by MFA China)
TDH: Talks between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of China Xi Jinping
On 18 May 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who arrived on a working visit to the capital of Shanxi Province of the People’s Republic of China to participate in the Central Asia–China Summit, held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Today’s summit is the second in the current year, Xi Jinping said, confirming China’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan, which is successfully implementing an “open door” policy and demonstrating significant progress in all spheres of state and society.
Special emphasis was placed on the significance of the state visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to China in January 2023, which resulted in important agreements and signed a package of documents designed to promote further fruitful cooperation.
This year is marked by an important political event for the People’s Republic of China – in March, at the session of the National People’s Congress, the leadership of the country’s executive power was approved for five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed.
He added that this year was also significant for Turkmenistan taking into account the elections of a new parliament.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, high milestones have been achieved in the development of interstate dialogue based on mutual respect, equality and friendship.
The expansion of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation fully meets the interests of our peoples, Xi said, expressing confidence that joint efforts will continue to be made for the progressive development of bilateral partnership, which is inherent in strategic nature.
Then the Chinese leader gave the floor to the head of Turkmenistan.
Thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for the invitation to visit China to participate in the first Summit of Heads of State of the Central Asia–China format, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the current visit to the friendly country is a good opportunity for a thorough exchange of views on a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation.
Today, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is actively expanding, based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and understanding. The evidence of this is the current meeting, the second in a row this year, the President of Turkmenistan said.
As it was emphasized, the main factor in the development of Turkmen-Chinese relations is an open, trusting, constructive dialogue that has developed at the highest state level. It is the regular meetings of the heads of Turkmenistan and China that give a powerful political boost to the promotion of large-scale and long-term initiatives aimed at strengthening friendship and interaction between two countries and peoples.
Over the past period, thanks to joint efforts, bilateral contacts have reached the level of strategic cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. A solid legal framework has been developed between the two countries, covering a variety of areas, which, of course, indicates that there is a huge space for joint activities – both in traditional and new areas.
All this allows the two states to successfully interact on the world arena, gives the opportunity to continue to actively cooperate within the framework of the United Nations and a number of other international organizations.
In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov confirmed his readiness to continue coordinating efforts on such important issues as ensuring lasting peace, security, stability, implementing Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting initiatives on topical issues on the global agenda.
During the meeting, noting the importance and relevance of Turkmenistan’s proposals aimed at solving pressing problems of our time, Chinese President Xi Jinping thanked President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for supporting China’s constructive initiatives.
In turn, Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the Chinese leader for the support of Turkmenistan’s international initiatives in various fields, as well as for the continued support of the country’s candidacy in the elections to reputable international organizations.
In terms of ensuring sustainable development and security in the region, efforts are important to combine Turkmenistan’s “Revival of the Great Silk Road” strategy with China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which will contribute to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
Among the main directions of Turkmen-Chinese relations is the interaction between legislative bodies, where special importance is attached to the activation of the interparliamentary friendship group between the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, the establishment of the practice of regular mutual exchanges.
Turkmenistan and China are developing trade and economic partnership in accordance with previously reached agreements and programs. An example of this is the recent increase in the volume of bilateral trade.
There is a great potential for increasing mutual trade, investment, implementation of joint projects in the field of energy, transport and communications, industries such as chemical, petrochemical, electrical and other fields. At the same time, an important role is assigned to the activities of the Turkmen-Chinese Cooperation Committee.
The key priority of cooperation is the fuel and energy sector. As it is known, in accordance with the signed contracts and agreements, since 2009, Turkmen natural gas is being exported to China through the Turkmenistan–China gas pipeline.
In the course of the talks, the sides exchanged views on the development of cooperation in this area, taking into account the national energy policy of Turkmenistan, based on the diversification of energy supplies to international markets.
As it was emphasized, there are prospects for expanding cooperation in the transport and communication sector.
Today, the partnership in the field of railway transport is being successfully strengthened. China and Turkmenistan are cooperating to form transport and transit corridors in the East-West direction. With the commissioning of the North–South railway line in 2014, the China–Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway container transportation route was developed, which is the shortest overland route for the export of Chinese goods to the Middle East.
In this regard, the possibilities of joining efforts to fully unlock the potential of transportation from China through Turkmenistan to Europe and the Middle East by all means of transport, including railways and highways, air traffic, sea routes, using infrastructure, in particular the Turkmenbashi International Seaport on the Caspian Sea, were considered.
As noted, it is obvious that the quality and volume of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries should be significantly increased, brought into line with objective realities and existing prospects. At the same time, the importance of entering into specific projects, using the geographical and infrastructural advantages of the two countries, searching for new directions, including in the non-resource sphere, in the field of high technologies and in other sectors was stressed.
Special emphasis was placed on the priority of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, which is successfully developing today in the fields of culture, education, science and tourism.
An exchange of views took place on the issues of holding 2024 as the Year of Culture of Turkmenistan in China and celebrating the 300th anniversary of the great thinker and poet Makhtumkuli.
As noted, cooperation in the field of healthcare is being expanded, including in the field of the introduction of new methods of prevention, diagnosis and experience of traditional Chinese medicine and innovative technologies, the development of modern knowledge in this direction.
One of the topics of discussion was the possibility of strengthening cooperation in the field of sports.
Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that earlier an invitation was sent to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to visit China this year. As it was emphasized, the upcoming meeting will give a powerful impetus to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Signed documents
Then, in the attendance of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held. The include:
- Protocol on amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the establishment of the Turkmen-Chinese Cooperation Committee dated August 29, 2008;
- Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters;
- Memorandum of Understanding on quarantine in the import and export of animals between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the General Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China;
- Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of mass media between the State Committee of Turkmenistan on Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography and the Press Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China;
- Memorandum of Cooperation and Mutual exchange between the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and the Chinese Communist Party. ///nCa, 19 May 2023 (based on TDH report, photo credit – Xinhua)