President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov addressed today at the Central Asia-China Summit in Xi’an.
Here is the slightly paraphrased translation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s speech (originally published by TDH):
Dear Heads of State, dear members of the delegations,
First of all, let me express my gratitude to His Excellency the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, for the initiative to convene the first Summit of the Central Asia–China format, hospitality and created conditions for constructive work.
The peoples of Central Asia and China are linked by centuries-old friendly relations and a vast experience of interaction and good neighborliness. It is well known that the Great Silk Road, which passed through the territory of Central Asia from China to Europe, became a factor in the development and progress of the entire world civilization.
In this context, I would like to highlight the symbolic significance of the current Summit in Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, the starting point of the Great Silk Road, the sister city of the Turkmen city of Mary, which in ancient times was called the gateway to Central Asia.
The summit reflects the development of relations between the countries of Central Asia and China in the modern period.
I am sure that today’s meeting will allow us to analyze the current state of our countries’ partnership and determine the degree of its development in the future.
The format also gives us the opportunity to discuss the main items on the global and regional agenda. The key issue here is ensuring peace and security as the main factor in the successful development of our countries.
Dear Heads of State,
The realities of the modern world, which have arisen as a result of negative factors – a shift in the vector of megatrends of world politics, dictate the need to develop an effective platform for international cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres.
Turkmenistan consistently stands for equality and justice in interstate relations, unconditional respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, for the implementation of sustainable development goals, supports the measures taken by the international community to counter terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, new challenges in the field of cyber and bio-security.
Using our authority and establishing an effective mechanism of multilateral cooperation within our format, we will be able to make a significant contribution to the establishment of a new agenda of peace and trust in international relations, reducing tensions, de-escalation of conflicts, transition to dialogue and negotiation methods of resolving disputes and contradictions on the basis of the UN Charter.
In this context, I would like to emphasize the relevance of political culture, which is an indicator of readiness and ability for constructive, respectful and equal dialogue.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to all the Heads of State of our format for their support in the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, 2023”, presented by the Turkmen side on the basis of the global initiative “Dialogue – a guarantee of Peace” announced in December 2021 by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov.
We firmly believe that a culture of respectful dialogue and commitment to the traditions of peaceful and trusting coexistence, joint work to strengthen security and stability, and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, can lay a solid foundation for consolidating multilateral efforts in promoting a new philosophy of international relations.
In this context, emphasizing the urgency of establishing coordinated actions between the foreign ministries of Central Asia and China on bilateral and multilateral tracks, I propose to consider the possibility of creating mechanisms for multilateral consultations, the purpose of which will be systematization and review of the implementation of the agreements reached. This is the only way we will be able to monitor the implementation of initiatives and proposals put forward by the Heads of State at the Central Asia–China Summits.
Dear Heads of State,
The combined potential of the countries of Central Asia and China, a powerful resource, industrial and technological base open up huge prospects for us in the economy.
We consider this format as a platform for further improvement of economic cooperation between the Central Asian States and the People’s Republic of China.
Historical experience clearly demonstrates to us that every process taking place at the turn of the century contains not only negative, but also positive, of course at first not obvious trends.
In this regard, I hope that a well-structured system of interaction aimed at solving key issues that determine the future of interregional economic cooperation, taking into account the national priorities and interests of each partner, will contribute to the organization of our joint work.
I believe that the steady expansion and diversification of foreign economic relations, through the use of the economic potential and logistical capabilities of each country, the formation of effective industrial cooperation schemes, joint development of projects in the energy sector and transport, meets the interests of the peoples of our countries.
One of the main areas of economic partnership between the Central Asian countries and China is the fuel and energy sector. A real and positive example of concrete cooperation in this area is the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, thanks to which our Chinese partners are currently developing their industry, meeting the needs of the Chinese population in natural gas.
At the same time, the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline has provided opportunities for transit countries in the region to bring their energy resources to the Chinese market.
Taking into account Turkmenistan’s energy policy based on the diversification of supplies of Turkmen energy resources to international markets and if the parties are interested, we could continue to work on the implementation of new projects related to the supply of Turkmen natural gas in the Chinese direction.
We are ready to expand cooperation in the transport sector, the main factor of which is the existence of objective mutual interests of the Central Asian countries and China.
We are confident that the project “Revival of the Great Silk Road” put forward by Turkmenistan is intended to encourage economic development in Eurasia, linking vast spaces from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean on modern principles, forming interconnected production and technological cycles and industrial belts.
In this context, we consider it particularly important to focus our efforts on maximizing the potential that opens up to us in the context of optimizing transport flows in the space of the Central Asian region and China.
We also proceed from the importance of strengthening cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and advocate the development of scientific and educational ties between our countries.
It is well known that the peoples of Central Asia and China have given the world outstanding scientists, inventors, thinkers, we are the heirs and keepers of the richest cultural and scientific traditions.
That is why we need to encourage this interest and actively promote broad cultural and scientific exchanges on a regular basis.
Developing the idea of the importance of establishing and expanding regular ties between the peoples of the Central Asian countries and China, I propose to organize and hold the Youth Forum of Central Asia and China this November in Mary.
Dear Heads of State,
In conclusion, I would like to note that Turkmenistan firmly believes in the need to consistently and steadily forge the ties of friendship and cooperation of the six countries and peoples, to cherish and preserve good neighborliness, centuries-old friendship, traditions of mutual respect and support.
Thank you for your attention.
(Xi’an, 19 May 2023)
///nCa, 19 May 2023