China and Turkmenistan have vowed to step up bilateral
cooperation, especially in specialized fields such as energy and
regional security.
China and Turkmenistan faced similar tasks in economic
development and maintaining regional peace and stability, and
shared a common aspiration to promote bilateral relations, Premier
Wen Jiabao said in Beijing on Wednesday.
Speaking during a meeting with the visiting Turkmenistan
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Wen said China valued ties
with Turkmenistan, which it regarded as a very important partner in
central Asia.
Wen said China appreciated Turkmenistan's neutrality policy and
promised that China would make joint efforts with Turkmenistan to
maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
The two countries shared huge potential for cooperation in trade
and energy, Wen said, urging both sides to continue to implement
bilateral agreements and work closely on the natural gas pipeline
project to establish "long-term and stable energy cooperation with
mutual benefit."
China and Turkmenistan signed a natural gas supply contract on
Tuesday after talks between Berdymukhamedov and President Hu
Jintao. Under the contract, China National Petroleum Corporation,
the largest Chinese oil producer, will import 30 billion cubic
meters of natural gas annually through the planned Central Asia Gas
Pipeline for 30 years from Turkmenistan.
Responding to Wen, Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan hoped to
strengthen cooperation with China in the energy and security
fields, thoroughly carry out the natural gas pipeline project, and
undertake the joint mission to safeguard regional peace and
stability.
Later, Berdymukhamedov also met with ?top legislator Wu
Bangguo. He told Wu that the development of relations with China
topped the country's foreign policy.
Turkmenistan would join China in the construction of "a new Silk
Road" to boost friendship between the two peoples, Berdymukhamedov
said.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National
People's Congress (NPC), said the NPC valued relations with the
Turkmenistan parliament.
"We should work closer to intensify exchanges and cooperation
between the two parliaments, to consolidate and expand the social
foundation for the China-Turkmenistan friendly relations," Wu
said.
Berdymukhamedov arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon to start a
two-day state visit. It is his first visit to China since he became
president in February.
(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2007)
