Turkmenistan, China intensifying partnership in gas sphere, including on project for fourth string of gas pipeline to China

ASHGABAT. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan and China will intensify cooperation in the gas sphere, according to a joint statement by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, who paid a state visit to China on January 5-6.

The text of the joint statement was published on January 6 in the government newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan. "The parties note the importance of cooperation between Turkmenistan and China in the gas field. The parties emphasize that a scheme of complex cooperation in this area - production, pipeline transportation, trade, financing and technical support - is being set up," the joint statement reads.

"Turkmenistan and China are strategic partners in the energy sector. (...) The parties will continue to fully implement the existing agreements, advance the process of negotiations on gas cooperation, accelerate the implementation of the second phase of the industrial development of the Galkynysh gas field, the construction of string D of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline and other major joint projects, and intensify cooperation in the gas industry," the joint statement said.

Earlier it was reported that the presidents of Turkmenistan and China had signed agreements on interstate cooperation, in particular in the fields of economy and energy, following negotiations in Beijing. In addition, the Turkmengaz state company and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the gas sphere. CNPC also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Yagshigeldy Kakaev International University of Oil and Gas.

As previously reported, about 40 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas per year are delivered through three strings (A, B and C) of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline, which was commissioned in December 2009.

Construction of the fourth string (D) of this gas pipeline has been discussed for several years. Its capacity will be 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year.