(Turkmenistan.ru) - Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has sent a congratulatory message to Chairman of China Hu Jintao on the fifteenth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the People's Republic of China, reports Trend.
The message says China was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Turkmenistan. "We consider it a striking expression of adherence to deep origins of the traditional relations between our two countries," says the Turkmen president in his letter.
The President of Turkmenistan expressed satisfaction with the high level of cooperation between two countries noting the successful Turkmen-Chinese partnership in the oil and gas sector, transport and communication, textile industry, science, culture, education and healthcare. Saparmurat Niyazov noted the great prospects for bilateral relations based on the principles of friendship, openness, mutual understanding and trust.
According to the head of state, regular top level visits as well as contacts between heads of ministries and departments and party and parliament exchanges have contributed greatly toward further development of bilateral relations.
It should be recalled that Turkmenistan and China established diplomatic relations on January 6, 1992 during the first official visit to Turkmenistan by the top level Chinese delegation headed by the minister for foreign economic relations and trade, Li Lanzin.