China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, sports, education, press, health and tourism. The two countries should actively carry out exchanges in the fields of humanities and culture, promote contact between their art groups, non-government organizations, media organizations and academic institutes and step up cooperation in education, he added.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, on Dec. 13, 2009. [Xinhua]

Hu announced the decision to double the number of annual scholarships offered by the Chinese government to Turkmen students studying in China from the current 45 to 90. Hu also expressed China's readiness to provide assistance to Turkmenistan on Chinese language learning.

Hu said since the two countries established diplomatic links 17 years ago, the two sides have maintained a high level of mutual trust and firmly supported each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests. He noted that the two countries have carried out vigorous cooperation in trade, energy and culture.

Hu said China has always placed importance on its relations with Turkmenistan, regarding it as a reliable friend and major partner. He said strengthening practical cooperation in all areas is in the common interests of both countries and peoples.

Hu said China is ready to work with Turkmenistan for the all-round, in-depth and rapid development of their bilateral ties.

Berdymukhamedov fully agreed with Hu's proposals for developing bilateral ties, saying Hu's visit is of special significance. He said Turkmenistan attaches great importance to China and its relations with China.

The long-term strategic partnership between the two countries is based on a high degree of mutual trust, mutual respect and friendship. Despite the changes in international situation, the Turkmen government and people will always firmly push forward cooperation with China, he said.

Berdymukhamedov spoke highly of the rapid growth of bilateral trade in recent years, saying China has become one of the biggest trade partners to Turkmenistan.

Despite the impacts of international financial crisis, trade between China and Turkmenistan increased 135.5 percent in 2008 and 38.7 percent in the first 10 months of 2009.

Berdymukhamedov said Chinese companies have made investment in oil and gas, transportation and other sectors in Turkmenistan and won respect of Turkmen companies.

He said the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline is an example of sincere cooperation under the strategic partnership of the two countries. He said the project is not only in the long-term interests of both countries and their peoples, but is also conducive to maintaining stability of the global energy market.

President Hu will fly to the border town of Turkmenabad Monday to attend a ceremony to inaugurate a natural gas pipeline linking China, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Berdymukhamedov said that under the new circumstance the two countries share a broad prospect of cooperation in all areas. Turkmenistan is ready to strengthen political dialogue and carry out practical cooperation with China in the fields of chemical industry, building material industry, science, culture and education.

The president said China is an important force for promoting world peace, stability and development. He expressed satisfaction with the effective cooperation between the two countries in multilateral organizations, saying the two sides share broad common interest and hold similar stances on international affairs.

Before the talks, Hu presented Berdymukhamedov with a list of books donated to the National Library of Turkmenistan.