Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 6 / Trend , E. Hasanov /
The trade turnover between Turkmenistan and the Chinese People's Republic has nearly doubled over the last two years, Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan U Khun Bin said in an interview with the Neytralniy Turkmenistan newspaper on Jan. 6.
According to U Khun Bin, such a rate is record-high.
China exports high-tech equipment, mechatronics, metals, clothing, footwear and other goods to Turkmenistan and imports agricultural, mining, textile production and raw materials from the country.
" Turkmenistan and China had already signed over 30 construction and other collaborative agreements as of March 2008," U Khun Bin said. "Their total volume amounts to more than $400 million." The diplomat added that Chinese and Turkmen companies also cooperate in the oil and gas, textile, telecommunication, construction and transport spheres.
The Chinese petrochemical company SINOPEC is conducting capital repairs in Turkmen oil wells. Similarly, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has obtained an operator's license to explore and produce raw material in the country and is drilling gas wells in Turkmenistan's southeastern regions. The Khuawei company provides telecommunication equipment and CITIC exports passenger cars in Turkmenistan.
Negotiations are currently underway to spark collaboration on new projects in the following sectors: construction materials, chemicals and communication lines. The CHINAROAD, SINOMACH and COMPLANT companies are presently negotiating with Turkmenistan to build the North-South Trunk Railway, a bridge over the Amu Darya in Farab and a glass combine in Ashkhabad.
U Khun Bin said the construction of a transnational Turkmenistan-China gas main would deepen relations between the two countries. According to U Khun Bin, the gas main has been closely observed by the international community and will be completed by the end of 2009. Over the next 30 years, Turkmenistan will deliver 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year to China via the facility.
"The 'project of century' is strategically significant for the economic development not only of our two nations, but also the entire region," U Khun Bin said.
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