Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, May 4 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhammedov received Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Xiao Qinghua, who presented his credentials, the Turkmen government said on Wednesday.
Qinghua conveyed President Hu Jintao's greetings to Berdimuhammedov.
"China is viewed as one of the most important strategic partners of Turkmenistan," Berdimuhammedov said.
"The Chinese government attaches great importance to the further intensification of full cooperation with Turkmenistan," Qinghua said.
He also assured that "he will make every effort to strengthen the fruitful Turkmen-Chinese partnership based on mutual respect, friendship, and in the long term."
China actively conducts its activities in the Central Asia.
A significant breakthrough is associated with a major project to build a pipeline to China from the eastern fields of Turkmenistan through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In late 2009, China began to import Turkmen gas under long term contract.
Berdimuhammedov plans to visit Beijing with an official visit in 2011. The sides are expected to sign agreement to increase the Turkmen fuel supply up to 60 billion cubic meters a year.
About 40 enterprises with Chinese capital operate in Turkmenistan and about 60 investment projects involve Chinese companies. China is represented in the projects in oil and gas, telecommunications, transport, agriculture, textile, chemical and food industries and in construction.