China-Turkmenistan partnership deepens with focus on energy, green transport
China and Turkmenistan have achieved significant progress in strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly in the key areas of energy security and green transportation, as high-level exchanges continue to deepen bilateral ties.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to begin a three-day visit to China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, China and Turkmenistan have enjoyed a healthy and stable growth in bilateral ties.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), a leading energy expert in the Central Asian country said Berdimuhamedov's visit to China once again proves the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
"At present, the China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership is dynamically developing in many areas. The main factor behind this is the trusting and friendly dialogue between the leadership of the two countries," said Begmyrat Soltanov, laboratory director at the Natural Gas Research Institute.
Energy cooperation holds a prominent place on the bilateral agenda. The Central Asia-China pipeline, which started from Turkmenistan, stands as an exemplar of mutually beneficial partnership. Turkmenistan steadfastly upholds its position as a leading supplier of pipeline natural gas to China, with export revenues from the fuel surpassing 8.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 alone.
Cooperation in the field of green transportation is also emerging as a new driving force in building an even closer China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future.
Over the past year alone, the public transport fleet in Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat, has been expanded with 700 new Chinese-made buses. These modern 12-meter vehicles, compliant with Euro 5 standards, are fully adapted to the local climate—featuring powerful air conditioning systems, WiFi connectivity, and digital payment options. The entire operation is managed from a centralized dispatch center via GPS navigation, transforming the capital's public transport into a world-class, high-tech, and safe system.
Yutong, a leading bus manufacturer in China, has been partnering with Turkmenistan since 2012. This collaboration encompasses not only the supply of equipment but also maintenance services carried out by the company's specialists.
"Transport plays a very important role in the development of the economy and international cooperation. It connects cities, regions, and countries. Transport promotes the development of industry, trade infrastructure, and business contacts. Cooperation between the two countries in this area can be called a mutually beneficial process," said Dovlet Meredov, business manager for Yutong in Turkmenistan.
