BEIJING - China and Turkmenistan should increase the scope of cooperation in the natural gas sector and raise the level of trade and investment, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Beijing on March 18. Xi made the statements during a meeting with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, national leader of the Turkmen people and chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, adding that the two sides should expand cooperation in non-resource areas, including connectivity, agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital economy and clean energy.

At the start of the Year of the Horse, China is ready to discuss cooperation and share development opportunities with Turkmenistan to promote the building of a Sino-Turkmen community with a shared future, he said. Stressing that mutual support is at the core of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan, he said regardless of the development of the international situation, China will always support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moreover, China always supports Turkmenistan in upholding the policy of permanent neutrality and will remain a trusted partner of Turkmenistan.

Both sides should accelerate the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan's development strategy, he said. China and Turkmenistan must resolutely fight the „three evil forces“ of terrorism, extremism and separatism to promote a secure environment for the development of the two countries, Xi Jinping said. When a number of global challenges emerge, China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to firmly maintain the status and authority of the United Nations and genuine multilateralism.

Xi Jinping urged the two sides to adhere to the philosophy of global governance, which emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and to lead the transformation of global governance with the principles of fairness, balance, openness and inclusiveness. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that China's prosperity and development benefit the world and cooperation between Turkmenistan and China has become an important and positive factor in the economic and social development of both countries and is in the long-term interest of both nations. As always, Turkmenistan will adhere to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with China, expand practical cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity and other areas, strive for common development and prosperity, and promote security and stability, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

He said Turkmenistan thanked China for its support for Turkmenistan's permanent neutral status, praised the four global initiatives proposed by Xi Jinping, and commended China for taking a fair stance in international affairs. Turkmenistan is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the China-Central Asia Mechanism to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

CMG