The Turkmenistan-China relationship benefited
the two peoples and was a priceless treasure that should be cherished and extended generation after generation, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said in a recent interview with Chinese media.
Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit Turkmenistan at Berdymukhamadov's invitation from
Dec. 13 to 14, during which Hu will attend the launch of gas deliveries through the China-
Central Asia natural gas pipeline and hold talks with Berdymukhamedov.
Hu's visit would definitely push friendly and cooperative relations between the two
countries to a new level, said Berdymukhamedov.
The Turkmen president said his discussions with Hu would focus on enhancing coordination to safeguard stability and peace in Asia, strengthening cooperation in international organizations, promoting sustainable development of the two countries and dealing with global challenges such as extremism, separatism and terrorism.
"How to further expand bilateral economic, trade and cultural cooperation is also one of
the major topics," said Berdymukhamedov.
During the history of their relations, the two peoples had enhanced understanding and
exchanges of culture, tradition and value with each other, said the president, adding the
ancient Silk Road linking the two countries served not only as a channel of reciprocal trade
but also a platform of comprehensive civilization exchanges.
"I believe that the Silk Road has played an important and active role in the fates of the two
peoples, laying a solid foundation for us to promote bilateral visits, boost exchanges and
cooperation, and maintain the continuity of bilateral ties," he said.
On the current situation and the prospect of the bilateral relations, Berdymukhamedov said
"the two countries have enough reason to be proud of the highly mutual trust."
"We have established effective mechanisms and solid legal basis in various sectors of
cooperation," he said.
Exchanges at the governmental level had been fruitful and the enterprises, social groups,
cultural and scientific personnel of the two sides had maintained close contacts, said
Berdymukhamedov.
Both the official and the civil exchanges of the two sides had been fruitful and practical,
which had laid a sound foundation for the development of the two countries in decades, he
stressed.
Berdymukhamedov said economic and trade cooperation had witnessed remarkable development.
According to the president, China was currently one of Turkmenistan's biggest trade
partners. Chinese companies had actively participated in the construction of various sectors,such as oil and natural gas, telecommunications, traffic, agriculture,
textiles, chemicals, food,health care and real estate construction.
The Turkmen-Chinese partnership was established on the basis of equality, mutual
complementary advantages and tapping cooperative potential fully, said Berdymukhamedov.
On the country's foreign policy, the president said his country attached great importance to opening to the world and comprehensively making use of its innovative,
progressive and advanced experience.
Turkmenistan had also pushed forward democratic reforms step by step, established a
modern judiciary, improved the electoral system and advanced regional autonomous bodies.
Noting the most important part of reform lay in the economy, the president said his country followed a multi-polar principle, sought innovation and ensured the economy developed in a high-quality way.
He said the reform had made remarkable achievements and, most importantly, won the
support of the people, thus it would be kept going.
Turkmenistan had a sincere love and respect for China and its people. There existed great
potential for cooperation between the two countries and the bilateral relations had a promising future, Berdymukhamedov said.