As part of a friendly visit to the People's Republic of China, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met on Wednesday, March 18, with Dai Houliang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

This dialogue marked an important historical milestone: this year marks the 20th anniversary of the start of a large-scale partnership that has transformed the fuel and energy sector into the driving force of Turkmen-Chinese relations.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that today, cooperation between the two countries, based on the principles of equality and mutual trust, is being imbued with a qualitatively new meaning. A striking symbol of this success is the Turkmenistan-China transnational gas pipeline, which the head of CNPC rightly called one of the largest projects of the century.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of cooperation, the National Leader proposed holding an international scientific and practical conference to systematize accumulated experience and chart new horizons for integration.

Particular attention during the talks was given to the practical implementation of agreements on the development of the super-giant Galkynysh field. The phased development of this unique resource base has already created thousands of jobs and provided a reliable raw material base for long-term export commitments. The parties noted that successful progress in the subsequent stages of Galkynysh development is a clear example of the effectiveness of the Open Door policy.

In discussing regional projects, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of the Serhetabat-Herat section, known as "Arkadagyň Ak ýoly." This section is a critical part of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, opening new routes for Turkmen gas to the south.

In turn, Dai Houliang expressed deep gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for creating an exceptional investment climate in a country with some of the world's largest natural gas reserves. Confirming CNPC's readiness to further expand the partnership, the corporation's CEO assured of its continued responsible approach to fulfilling all obligations. The meeting in Beijing once again confirmed that the Turkmen-Chinese energy tandem remains a factor of stability and predictability in the global energy market.