Turkmenistan, China ready to boost economic co-op

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 24

By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:

Turkmenistan and China have confirmed their readiness to further enhance economic partnership in view of its enormous potential, national interests and a common vision for the future of the Asian region, the Turkmen government said in a message June 24.

This announcement was made during a meeting of Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with China’s President Xi Jinping in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s capital is hosting a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Turkmenistan is taking part in the forum as a guest of honor.

The Turkmen government’s message said Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to develop a special program to expand the partnership within the Turkmen-Chinese cooperation committee and attach special attention to cooperation in energy, transportation and high technologies.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in turn, said China is Turkmenistan’s main partner in energy sector and praised the long-term cooperation in the gas industry.

China is the largest foreign trade partner of Turkmenistan. Beijing expects to increase annual purchases of Turkmen gas up to 65 billion cubic meters.

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) buys gas from the Central Asia region since 2009.