On January 5-6, 2023, the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the People's Republic of China took place.
It should be noted that this is the first foreign visit of the head of state this year, which coincided with the significant date marked on January 6 - the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and China.
On January 5, the presidential airplane arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport, where officials greeted the head of the Turkmen state at the airstairs. From the airport, the motorcade of the head of Turkmenistan headed for the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
On January 6, in the first half of the day, negotiations were held in Beijing between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.
In the Great Hall of the People, the President of Turkmenistan was welcomed by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China. After the ceremony of official photographing against the background of the state flags of the two countries, the President of Turkmenistan and the President of the People's Republic of China welcomed the members of the official delegations.
Then a meeting was held in an expanded format - with the participation of members of the official delegations of the two countries.
Noting the fruitful nature of the bilateral partnership, which has been given a strategic character over the past decade, the Chinese leader expressed confidence that the agreements reached during the current meeting, enshrined in the documents being prepared for signing, will further strengthen mutually beneficial interstate cooperation.
Thanking the head of Turkmenistan for the support provided to the progressive development of Chinese-Turkmen relations, the President of China noted that under the leadership of the outstanding leader of the new generation Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in the era of the Revival of the new era of a powerful state, Turkmenistan confidently follows the path of progress and prosperity, achieving success in all areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also addressed his best wishes to Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who made an invaluable contribution to strengthening interstate relations, and asked him to extend an invitation to the Arkadag to visit China at any convenient time.
On behalf of the Turkmen delegation, the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov thanked President Xi Jinping for the hospitality, warm welcome and excellent conditions created for staying and working in Beijing, and also conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes from the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan.
It was noted that relations between Turkmenistan and China have a long history, throughout which a beneficial process of mutual knowledge, connectivity of cultures, traditions, worldviews took place between the two peoples.
Today, Turkmenistan and China can be proud of the achieved level of mutual trust and understanding. Efficient mechanisms of cooperation have been established in various fields, a solid legal framework has been created, fruitful contacts are being made at the government level, and relations between public organizations, cultural and scientific figures, along party and parliamentary spheres are expanding. There is a lively, creative process of mutual rapprochement between the two states and peoples, strengthening the foundation of friendship and cooperation for decades to come.
The Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership, signed in September 2013, forms the backbone of relations between Turkmenistan and China and determines the meaning of bilateral relations.
It was also noted that presently China's initiative "One Belt, One Road" is actively linked with the strategy of Turkmenistan "Revival of the Great Silk Road". In modern conditions, the presence of objective mutual interests allows Turkmenistan and China to successfully build up partnership in the context of the implementation of these concepts. They are designed to give an impetus to economic development in Eurasia, uniting the vast expanse from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans on modern principles, forming interconnected production and technological cycles and industrial belts, contributing to the solution of many social problems, improving the quality of life and the well-being of peoples.
It was emphasized that Central Asia traditionally plays an important role in the Turkmen-Chinese dialogue. The basic attitudes of our countries are also close: Turkmenistan and China are in favor of creating a strong security system in this part of the globe based on a multilateral balance of interests and commitment to political and diplomatic methods for solving emerging problems. At the same time, the positive contribution to this process of the new format of political interaction "Central Asia - China" was noted.
Speaking about inter-parliamentary relations, which are important in expanding the Turkmen-Chinese cooperation, it was noted that Turkmenistan considers them as a valuable resource for rapprochement and mutual understanding between our states and peoples. Being in favor of intensifying contacts between the Turkmen and Chinese legislators, establishing the practice of regular mutual exchanges, they expressed confidence that the organization of the visit to China this year of the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan will become a powerful impetus for strengthening friendship and cooperation between Turkmenistan and China.
In the framework of the talks, it was noted with satisfaction the growing trade and economic partnership between the two countries from year to year, which has been developing steadily, progressively, based on equality and mutual benefit.
The President of Turkmenistan stressed that the fuel and energy sector is the most important priority for cooperation between Turkmenistan and China, since our states have great potential in this sphere.
The head of the Turkmen state further noted that today the parties are working on increasing the volume of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to China, taking into account the growing needs of the Chinese economy and the possibilities of the resource base of Turkmenistan. In this regard, the process of substantive discussion of the project for the construction of the fourth line of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline is underway.
Currently, Turkmenistan, together with partners, is creating an extensive network of transport, transit and logistics infrastructure of a combined type along the East-West and North-South lines. In the future, it will include transit corridors leading to the regions of the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea basin, and the Baltic. This opens up an optimal land route to the European and Middle Eastern markets through Central Asia from the Asia-Pacific region.
Along with a constructive political dialogue, effective trade and economic cooperation, issues of education, culture, science, sports, health care take an important place in Turkmen-Chinese relations, the head of state continued, stressing that Turkmenistan highly appreciates the readiness of Chinese partners to provide the Turkmen youth the possibilities for studying.
In this regard, it was noted that great attention is paid to the study of the Chinese language in Turkmenistan. The Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly, the National Institute of World Languages named after Dovletmammet Azadi and other universities teach Chinese.
The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China, held last year, became a milestone event that determined the main paths for the further progressive development of the People's Republic of China in all spheres.
Taking the opportunity, the head of Turkmenistan congratulated the leadership of the Communist Party of China on the successful holding of the congress, expressing confidence that its constructive results would have a huge beneficial effect not only on the development of China itself, but also on the situation around the world.
In conclusion, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov sincerely thanked the Chinese leader for his huge personal contribution to the development of the strategic partnership with Turkmenistan, constant care and attention to relations with our country.
President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping noted the great importance attached to the current high-level talks, expressing China's unwavering commitment to the course of further building up mutually beneficial cooperation with Turkmenistan as a long-term, strategic partner.
Appreciation was expressed for the active interaction of the two countries within the framework of major international organizations, primarily the United Nations, as well as Turkmenistan's support for initiatives and proposals put forward by China.
Noting that active cooperation between the two states in the “Central Asia-China” format also contributes to the development of our trusting dialogue, the President of China proposed to hold a next meeting of the participating countries in the near future.
Touching upon the issues of bilateral cooperation, the Chinese leader named traditional fuel and energy and transport and communication complexes, as well as healthcare, communications, high technologies and many others among the most important areas of application of interests.
In this regard, great tasks are assigned to the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation.
As emphasized, an integral part of the Turkmen-Chinese relations is the humanitarian direction, including science, education and culture.
President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping expressed confidence in the further progressive development of the established constructive interstate dialogue based on centuries-old traditions of friendship and trust between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples.
During the talks, the heads of the two states exchanged views on a wide range of issues of Turkmen-Chinese relations, multifaceted interstate cooperation built on a long-term, mutually beneficial basis, and also discussed topical issues on the international and regional agenda of mutual interest.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping to pay a state visit to Turkmenistan at any convenient time.
The invitation was gratefully accepted. The dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.
The meeting continued then in narrow format.
During the talks, the current state and prospects for the development of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation were discussed, taking into account current trends in the global economy and the priorities of the socio-economic development of the two countries.
The main approaches of the parties to the further building of an interstate dialogue were voiced, the invariable principles of which remain trust, equality and mutual respect.
The importance of continuing active contacts at various levels, as well as mutual support within the framework of the United Nations, other authoritative international organizations and regional structures was especially emphasized.
Expressing satisfaction with the results of the talks, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping confirmed the mutual interest of the parties in developing and further deepening a full-scale strategic partnership in the interests of the two friendly states and their fraternal peoples, expressing confidence that these good goals will be directly served by the results current summit.
Following the talks, the ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place.
At the end of the official part of the visit, in honor of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping gave an official dinner.
At the end of the official dinner, the heads of the two states expressed their firm conviction that the important agreements reached today would serve to further successful development of traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples.
On the same day, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held meetings with Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Li Zhanshu.
During the visit, representatives of the Government delegation of our country held talks with members of the joint intergovernmental committee on cooperation from the Chinese side.
The main topic of discussion was concrete steps to diversify mutually beneficial partnerships in a wide range of areas, and bring it to a qualitatively new level that meets mutual interests as soon as possible.
The parties noted with satisfaction that the established relations of mutual understanding and respect between the two countries and their leaders, along with regular, productive contacts at the intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels, create a favorable basis for effective interaction in a number of priority areas. Among the most important of them are the trade and economic, fuel and energy, transport and communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres, cooperation in which fully meets the development priorities of the two friendly states.
In this regard, the importance of well-coordinated work within the framework of the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation, designed to identify new promising areas and facilitate the realization of all reached agreements, was noted.
On the same day, members of the official delegation of our country met with Turkmen students studying at universities in China.
Conveying to the President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Hero-Arkadag the words of deep gratitude for the care shown for the youth, the creation of all conditions for its all-round harmonious development, young people of Turkmenistan assured that in 2023, held under the deeply symbolic motto “Happy youth with Arkadag Serdar”, they will make a feasible contribution to raising the authority of the beloved Motherland, as well as to strengthening the relations of friendship between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples.
In memory of the significant event, the students were presented with Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's book "Ömrümiň manysy".
In the second half of the day, the President of Turkmenistan visited the National Museum of China, where he viewed the unique exposition of the world's largest museum, created in order to preserve and popularize the richest art and the millennia-old history of the Chinese people.
Having completed his state visit to the People's Republic of China, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left for Turkmenistan.
