On September 2, a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping took place in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting confirmed the high level of strategic partnership between the two countries.

At the beginning of the conversation, Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping thanked President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for accepting the invitation to visit China, congratulated him on the successful holding of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, and conveyed greetings to National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In turn, the head of the Turkmen state congratulated the leader of the People's Republic of China on the successful holding of the SCO Summit and the 80th anniversary of the Victory. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that each meeting between the leaders of the two countries is an important stage of cooperation and an opportunity to discuss key issues of bilateral relations and the international agenda.

It was noted that Turkmenistan and China have similar or coinciding approaches to priority issues of international politics. They are based on the desire for peace, stability and security in Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to China for supporting Turkmenistan's neutrality, noting the important role of China in the adoption of the historic UN General Assembly Resolution "Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan". Xi Jinping, in turn, congratulated Turkmenistan on the 30th anniversary of neutrality, highly appreciating the country's peacekeeping policy.

The Turkmen side also supported the Global Governance Initiative put forward by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China at the SCO Summit, emphasizing that its provisions coincide with Turkmenistan's positions in the field of international relations.

During the meeting, the parties discussed strategic partnership in the economic sphere, especially in the gas industry. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov reported that the Chinese side won an international tender for the development of the fourth stage of the largest gas field Galkynysh, and congratulated Xi Jinping on this event.

It was also noted that cooperation in the transport and logistics sector is of great importance. The strategies "Revival of the Great Silk Road" of Turkmenistan and "One Belt, One Road" of China are called complementary and aimed at creating a single geo-economic space of Eurasia.

Great importance in bilateral relations is attached to the cultural and humanitarian sphere. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for the creation of favorable conditions for the education of Turkmen students in China and emphasized the intention to expand these ties. The parties also noted the importance of scientific cooperation, the implementation of joint projects in the field of high technology, as well as parliamentary, public, women's and youth diplomacy.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to take part in an international forum to be held in Ashgabat on December 12 and dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality.

Following the talks, the parties signed a number of joint documents on cooperation in the fields of intellectual property, mass media, education, etc.

ORIENT