Turkmen FA minister, CNPC president discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation, great potential exists

ASHGABAT. June 29 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan intends to continue work on implementing new projects related to boosting natural gas supplies to China, the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

As reported on the website of Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov announced this sentiment at a meeting with executive board member and president of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Hou Qijun, who is in Ashgabat on a working trip. During the talks, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation and exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral cooperation, taking into account the great potential that exists.

The parties also noted during the meeting that the fuel and energy sector is one of the most important priorities for cooperation between Turkmenistan and China.

As previously reported, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chinese President Xi Jinping, following talks in Beijing in January of this year, signed agreements on interstate cooperation, in particular, in the fields of economy and energy. Moreover, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the gas sector was signed between the state concern Turkmengaz and CNPC. CNPC also signed a memorandum of understanding with Yagshygeldi International University of Oil and Gas.

As also previously reported, the A, B, and C gas-pipeline strings of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China pipeline, which was commissioned in December 2009, currently supply about 40 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas per year.

The matter of constructing the gas pipeline's fourth D string, with planned capacity of 30 bcm per year, has been under discussion for a number of years.

Turkmenistan exported 40.7 bcm of natural gas via pipelines in 2022, a decline of 3.3% year-on-year, including 32.9 bcm supplied to China, an increase of 4.4% year-on-year.