Three Celebrations in One Evening and a New Chapter in the Comprehensive Partnership Between Ashgabat and Beijing
On October 1, 1949, during a rally in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. This date marked a new beginning in the country's history. Since then, the Chinese people and their friends have annually celebrated this day as the nation's primary holiday—the National Day of the People's Republic of China.
The celebration encompasses a wide range of events across the country. It traditionally begins with a national flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square. Streets and public squares are adorned with red flags, floral arrangements, and light displays. Public festivities take place in central parks, culminating in fireworks in the evening.
Since 1999, the holiday has expanded into a full week of time off—from October 1 to 7. Known as "Golden Week," this period is widely used by the Chinese people for travel, leisure, and visiting relatives.
Large-scale preparations for the country's main national holiday are currently underway in Beijing and other Chinese cities. For instance, a giant floral basket titled "Wishes for the Motherland" was assembled today, September 25, in Tiananmen Square, while ten thematic floral installations have been set up along Chang'an Avenue. Similar floral displays are being created across the country—ranging from the resort city of Sanya to Harbin, which features a composition depicting a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.
While preparations for the major holiday are still ongoing in China, the occasion has already been celebrated in Ashgabat. The event took place at the Yyldyz Hotel, bringing together staff from the Chinese Embassy and the wider diplomatic corps, representatives of the business community, and numerous Turkmen friends—people for whom the friendship between Turkmenistan and China is not merely a line in a report, but a matter of daily work and personal bonds.
The occasion was not merely a matter of the calendar; the reception once again reaffirmed the two nations' commitment to a comprehensive strategic partnership—demonstrated not just through toasts (though there were certainly those), but through concrete figures and projects.
The evening’s official program featured addresses by Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Qian Naicheng, and Turkmen government’s principal guest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov.
But let us take things in order—following protocol, of course...
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ashgabat hosted the reception nearly a week ahead of the actual holiday and the season of China’s "Golden Autumn." Guests were invited to view an exhibition that harmoniously blended the ancient traditions of the Middle Kingdom with cutting-edge data showcasing China’s rapid development.
The tone for the evening was set from the very first minute of the official proceedings, when Chinese Ambassador Qian Naicheng suggested viewing the various celebratory occasions not in isolation, but all together. These included the Mid-Autumn Festival—traditionally celebrated by families gathered around a round table—on September 25; China’s National Day on October 1; and, of course, the 35th anniversary of independent, neutral Turkmenistan.
"As a good friend, a good partner, and a good brother, the Chinese side sincerely rejoices" at its neighbor's milestone anniversary, said the Ambassador of the friendly nation. And that sentiment of "sincere rejoicing" embodied just as much constructive diplomacy as the documents signed over the past year.
Rashid Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, began by noting that such celebrations are held in homes where there are memories to cherish—and, indeed, there is a great deal to look back on. The ties between the two peoples, he observed, have stood the test of time. Today, those bonds are exceptionally strong, characterized by a framework "based on trust, equality, and respect for each other's traditions."
Ji Shumin set a strategic tone for the conversation, noting that the current year stands apart as it marks the launch of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, thereby establishing a new benchmark for the joint agenda with Ashgabat. Rashid Meredov echoed this sentiment from the Turkmen side, emphasizing that what is now termed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" is not merely a diplomatic label but the very essence of the relationship—"testifying to the historical continuity, close cooperation, and mutual understanding between our countries and peoples."
A solid foundation for both sides is the high-level political dialogue, which has been successfully sustained by a series of events: the visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan to Beijing last year and his participation in the 80th-anniversary Victory celebrations; two meetings between President Xi Jinping and the Turkmen leader in 2025; the March visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the People's Council (Khalk Maslakhaty) and National Leader of the Turkmen people; and the April visit of Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC.
Energy emerged as the central theme of the evening. Both speakers took turns addressing the audience, yet their remarks seemed to complement one another. In their speeches, the energy sector appeared not merely as an industry, but rather as a structural pillar of the relationship. The Foreign Minister described it as the primary, flagship area of cooperation—and immediately clarified the principles underpinning it. Rashid Ovezgeldiyevich was referring to the fact that collaboration with Chinese counterparts is guided by principles he defined as "honesty, transparency, and mutual benefit."
Ambassador Qian Shumin translated this same concept into concrete, measurable terms: the three lines of the China–Central Asia gas pipeline. These lines, which have "operated stably and reliably since their commissioning," underpin not only the bilateral energy balance but the regional one as well.
A key highlight emerged during the discussion on the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field’s development. Rashid Meredov reminded the audience that the launch of this phase "was announced by President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, during the visit of Ding Xuexiang" to the country.
For his part, Ambassador Qian Naicheng viewed this as a milestone; he noted that, starting from this point, the sectoral partnership transcended previous boundaries, "opening up new horizons and entering a new stage of development." This event coincided with a time when the world is grappling with "energy shortages and serious disruptions to production and supply chains."
In such times, the value of a reliably functioning gas pipeline certainly outweighs many declarations.
China has ranked first among Turkmenistan’s foreign trade partners for fifteen consecutive years, with the trade volume—according to Qian Naicheng—"maintaining a high level exceeding 10 billion US dollars." In his own remarks, Rashid Meredov also presented the latest figures, noting that "the volume of bilateral trade for the first seven months of 2026 amounted to nearly 5 billion US dollars."
The head of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry also highlighted a factor without which figures remain mere statistics: the work of the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, which "plays a key role in coordinating the entire spectrum of trade and economic ties between our countries." It is worth recalling that the committee’s seventh meeting took place in Ashgabat in April, resulting in the signing of a substantial package of bilateral documents.
The conversation then turned to what can bind the two nations even more strongly than statistics: railway transport and East-West transit corridors. According to the minister, this area holds significant untapped potential.
The Ambassador also cited a notable development of the season: for the first time, Turkmenistan has conducted "trial plantings of high-yield cotton varieties developed in China, and a good harvest is expected."
This lends itself to a beautiful metaphor: "From the historic Silk Road fabric to a modern experimental field!"
Another piece of good news is the high level of activity currently observed across all levels of diplomatic engagement. Consultations between the foreign ministries are held regularly according to agreed-upon plans, and Rashid Meredov noted the "growing role of parliamentary, public, women, and youth diplomacy."
The humanitarian sphere proved to be the most "heartwarming" area of cooperation; the Foreign Minister cited figures that represent real people. For instance, more than 9,300 Turkmen citizens are studying at Chinese universities, while within Turkmenistan, the Chinese language is being learned by around a thousand students across nine higher education institutions and over six thousand pupils in ten schools, he emphasized.
April saw the launch of two new initiatives: the Luban Workshop at the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University and a Traditional Chinese Medicine center at the Myrat Garryev Medical University. The Ambassador proudly noted that the number of students is rising in tandem on both sides, adding that "channels for humanitarian exchange between the two countries are widening, and their content is becoming increasingly rich."
A celebration is a celebration, yet Ambassador Ji Shumin did not miss the opportunity to point out that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, a period during which the country is rapidly transforming its export profile. There was a time when exports consisted primarily of clothing, furniture, and home appliances—the so-called "old three." These have been superseded by the "new three": new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar photovoltaic products. Furthermore, according to the Ambassador, a "newest three"—comprising artificial intelligence, robotics, and innovative pharmaceuticals—has been gaining rapid momentum since last year.
This swift advancement in science and technology has led to a surge in high-value invention patents, with the total reaching 2.36 million—placing China among the world's leading nations.
Ambassador Ji Shumin cited numerous figures for the current year, providing a solid foundation for his address. Consider the evidence: GDP growth of 4.7% in the first half of the year; a 5.2% rise in industrial output in August alone; growth of 12.1% in equipment manufacturing and 16.7% in the high-tech sector; a 17.6% increase in trade volume from January to August; and foreign exchange reserves holding steady at $3.4 trillion.
A distinct section is dedicated to the "green" agenda. Solar power capacity has reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing coal-fired capacity for the first time in China and making the country the world's largest source of installed capacity. Wind power equipment and photovoltaic modules are exported to over 200 countries and regions, with China holding a 70% and 80% share of the global market, respectively; according to the Ambassador, this has reduced global costs for wind power by more than 60% and for photovoltaic generation by 80%.
Finally, there are the four global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping—covering global development, security, civilizations, and governance—which Ji Shumin described as "global public goods" embedded in the concept of a "shared future for mankind."
Thus, this September offers ample cause for a grand celebratory feast—three consecutive milestones, like three courses that must be served while still hot: the seventy-seventh anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the thirty-fifth anniversary of independent, neutral Turkmenistan, and the "ancient civilizational ties" between the two peoples—nations long brought together by caravan routes and now bound by the enduring, modern-day incarnation of the Great Silk Road.
With a timeline like this, one can celebrate to one’s heart’s content—provided there are memories to cherish. And our countries and peoples certainly have plenty to look back on. Indeed, as we have said, there is a great deal to remember.
Yet the time will come when our future descendants will measure not the vast kilometers separating Ashgabat and Beijing, but the long, long years spent in sincere friendship…
Happy holiday, Chinese friends!
Happy Birthday to the People’s Republic of China—a nation that may seem distant, yet is so very close to us!
Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV
