Chinese, Turkmen presidents discuss enhancement of cooperation
ASHGABAT. Sept 15. (Interfax) - China and Turkmenistan are interested in boosting cooperation in the field of natural gas and non-commodity sectors, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a bilateral meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand on Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
The Turkmen president and his Chinese counterpart Xi held a bilateral meeting in Samarkand this morning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
During the meeting, Xi noted that the parties are interested in increasing the scale of cooperation between the two countries in the field of natural gas and non-commodity sectors. These projects will give a new impetus to the development of bilateral economic cooperation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
China views Turkmen-Chinese ties as promising and long-term, Xi said. China respects Turkmenistan's chosen path of development in accordance with national traditions and opposes any interference from outside in the internal affairs of the country.
During the meeting, the parties agreed to intensify and promote the One Belt, One Road and Revival of the Great Silk Road joint initiatives. To implement the projects as soon as possible, cultural centers will be set up to bring the Turkmen and Chinese peoples closer together.
The parties also discussed the possibility of further enhancing Turkmen-Chinese cooperation as part of the China + Central Asia meeting, and decided to continue the implementation of global initiatives on security, international coordination and promotion of peace in the world.
The Turkmen president noted that bilateral relations between the two countries are expanding every year and cover more and more areas of the economy.
"Today, Turkmen-Chinese partnership is developing in such strategic areas as trade, the energy sector, the transport sector, namely cross-border transportation, as well as in the field of culture and education," Berdimuhamedov said.
He noted that cooperation in promoting the One Belt, One Road project and the Revival of the Great Silk Road program, as well as close partnership within multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and the China + Central Asia meeting mechanism are important areas of Turkmen-Chinese relations.