Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said China is ready to share development opportunities with Turkmenistan when meeting with National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Beijing.
He said China is willing to jointly build a new pattern of all-round cooperation with Turkmenistan.
Berdimuhamedov is on a three-day goodwill visit to China through Thursday.
Xi said over the past 35 years since its independence, Turkmenistan has blazed an independent development path suited to its own national conditions.
China stands ready to work with the Turkmen side to explore more possibilities for cooperation and deliver more progress in building the China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future, he said.
Mutual support is the essence of promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan, Xi said.
No matter how the international situation changes, China will consistently support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, support Turkmenistan in following its policy of permanent neutrality, and be a trustworthy cooperation partner of Turkmenistan, he said.
Both countries should accelerate strategic alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road, expand the scale of cooperation in the natural gas sector, elevate trade and investment levels, and deepen cooperation in non-resource sectors, such as connectivity, agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital economy and clean energy, said Xi.
He called for joint efforts to advance the Luban Workshop vocational training programs, build up a center for traditional Chinese medicine, and accelerate the mutual establishment of cultural centers.
The two sides must resolutely combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to build a stronger security barrier for the development of both countries, said Xi.
In a world fraught with challenges, China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to firmly safeguard the status and authority of the United Nations (UN), practice true multilateralism, and uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, he said.
Berdimuhamedov said China's development benefits the entire world and a thriving China will make the world better.
Thanks to President Xi's personal efforts, Turkmenistan and China have seen their friendly relations develop rapidly and steadily, their legislative bodies and political parties maintain close exchanges, their cooperation across various fields become further enriched, and their comprehensive strategic partnership reach a high level, he said.
Berdimuhamedov said cooperation between Turkmenistan and China has become a key factor conducive to the economic and social development of the two sides, which is in line with the long-term interests of the people of both countries.
Turkmenistan will, as always, abide by the one-China principle and is willing to enhance strategic alignment with China, expand practical cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity and other fields, and jointly seek development and promote security and stability, he said.
The Turkmen side is grateful to China for backing its policy of permanent neutrality, highly commends the four global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and appreciates China's consistent fair position in international affairs, said Berdimuhamedov.
Turkmenistan is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms, such as the UN and the China-Central Asia mechanism, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the region and the wider world, he said.
Xi says China ready to share development opportunities, build new pattern of all-round cooperation with Turkmenistan
