Turkmen National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented China with an Akhal-Teke horse during his goodwill visit, calling the world-renowned breed a potent symbol of shared heritage and friendship between the two countries.
Known as the "Heavenly Horse" or "blood-sweating horse," the Akhal-Teke is celebrated for its metallic sheen, elegance and endurance. The breed first reached China more than 2,000 years ago via the Silk Road and has since become a recurring diplomatic gift from Turkmenistan.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Turkmenistan has presented China with Akhal-Teke horses on four occasions, reinforcing cultural bonds. Berdimuhamedov said the latest gift continues to embody centuries of exchange and strategic importance in bilateral relations.
"According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. In Turkmenistan, this year is being marked under the meaningful theme of 'Independent Neutral Turkmenistan - the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses'. I mention this for a reason. The horse, these noble creatures known as 'Heavenly Horses,' is a shining symbol of the shared historical heritage of the peoples of Turkmenistan and China," said Berdimuhamedov in an interview on Wednesday.
"As is well known, as early as the second century BC, the ancestors of the Turkmen people presented to China, as a state gift, the horse they held in the highest esteem: the Akhal-Teke, the famed 'Heavenly Horse.' That gift was a diplomatically significant gesture of great strategic importance in the history of friendly exchanges between our two countries. Today, we have tremendous potential to make cooperation in the equine sector a new highlight and a new direction in bilateral relations. Chinese equestrian and horse-breeding experts are already active members of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Association, whose chair is personally held by the national leader of Turkmenistan. Taking this opportunity, I sincerely invite Chinese equine specialists and horse enthusiasts to take an active part in the series of celebratory events to be held in Turkmenistan this year," Berdimuhamedov continued.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, the supreme representative organ of people's power in the Central Asian country, paid a goodwill visit to China from March 17 to 19.
With China already celebrating the Year of the Horse, the Akhal-Teke gift underscored how cultural traditions continue to shape modern diplomacy between China and Turkmenistan.
Turkmen leader gifts Akhal-Teke horse to China, highlighting shared heritage in Year of the Horse
