In Ashgabat Sunday, China and Turkmenistan lauded the good
development of bilateral relations and vowed to further promote
bilateral cooperation in various fields.
The agreement was reached in talks between visiting Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao and Turkmen President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov.
China and Turkmenistan have regarded each other as reliable
friends and partners and supported each other on issues of major
concern, Wen said, adding that China is satisfied with the growth
momentum of bilateral relations since the two nations forged
diplomatic ties 15 years ago.
Both nations, which share a common aspiration to promote
bilateral relations, are facing tasks in economic development and
maintaining regional peace and stability, Wen said.
He spoke highly of Turkmenistan's long-term adherence to the
one-China policy and the country's support for China on the issues
of Taiwan, Tibet, and in its fight against the Eastern Turkistan
terrorist group.
China will continue providing its support for Turkmenistan to
safeguard national sovereignty and help the country promote
economic development, said Wen. The Chinese premier also put
forward a four-point proposal on further improving
Sino-Turkmenistan relations.
Wen called on Turkmenistan to intensify its exchange and
cooperation with China to increase political mutual trust and
deepen the two-way trade cooperation by launching a bilateral
economic and trade commission in the near future.
"(The two countries) should give full play to their industrial
advantages, expand cooperation in specialized fields and further
implement the agreed projects to step up bilateral trade
cooperation to a new level," said the Chinese premier.
Wen also suggested the two nations expand humanitarian exchange,
especially among the younger generation, and strengthen bilateral
cooperation on security issues to promote regional peace,
stability, and prosperity.
Calling Turkmenistan an important nation in central Asia, Wen
said China appreciates its permanent neutrality, adding that China
favors the establishment of a United Nations (UN) Regional Center
for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat.
Hailing the development of bilateral relations, Berdymukhamedov
said Turkmenistan and China share identical or similar views on
many significant issues, noting that bilateral cooperation would
serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples as well as the
maintenance of regional peace and stability.
The Turkmen side will work closely with its Chinese partners on
implementing a natural gas pipeline project, Berdymukhamedov
said.
China and Turkmenistan signed a natural gas supply contract in
July during Berdymukhamedov's visit to China. Under the agreement,
China National Petroleum Corporation, the largest Chinese oil
producer, will import from Turkmenistan 30 billion cubic meters of
natural gas annually through the planned Central Asia Gas Pipeline
for 30 years.
The Turkmen president also reiterated his readiness to
unwaveringly uphold the One-China policy and cooperate with the
Chinese side to jointly combat the "Three Evil Forces" (terrorism,
extremism, and separatism).
Invited by Berdymukhamedov, Wen arrived in Ashgabat on Saturday
evening for an official visit, which coincided with the 15th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two nations.
This was the second leg of Wen's four-nation visit, which first took him
to Uzbekistan. He will also visit Belarus and Russia.
(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2007)
