President Hu Jintao and his Turkmenistan counterpart Saparmurat Niyazov held talks in Beijing Monday, agreeing to further enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

 

Niyazov arrived here Sunday for a six-day state visit to China as guest of Hu. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern during their talks.

 

Hu said China and Turkmenistan have enjoyed smooth development of bilateral relations since forging diplomatic ties 14 years ago.

 

Turkmenistan shares a southern border with Iran, a western border with Afghanistan, a northern border with Uzbekistan and has a coastline on the Caspian Sea.

 

The two countries have increasingly deepened their political mutual trust, and supported each other on some major issues concerning national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hu said.

 

Hu said the fruitful cooperation between the two countries in economy, trade, transport, energy and culture have brought concrete benefits for the two peoples. The close coordination between the two countries in international and regional affairs have made a positive contribution to the regional and world peace and stability.

 

Speaking highly of Turkmenistan's support for China on the Taiwan and Tibet issues, Hu said China also supports Turkmenistan's neutral policy and its efforts in domestic development.

 

Hu said China will never change its policy of pushing for stable development of China-Turkmenistan friendly cooperative relations.

 

In order to jointly promote the all-round development of China-Turkmenistan relations, China is ready to work with Turkmenistan under the principles of mutual respect and equal treatment. China and Turkmenistan are sincere friends and reliable partners, the president noted.

 

Hu said China and Turkmenistan complement each other in market, technology, fund, resources and many other fields, and the two sides should further expand their cooperation in such spheres as transport, energy, chemical industry, telecommunications and textile.

 

The two sides should work together to prevent and combat the "three evil forces," namely terrorism, separatism and extremism, so as to safeguard domestic and regional security and stability, Hu said.

 

Hu also called for the two countries to enhance cooperation in culture, education and tourism, and to strengthen coordination in international affairs, such as human rights and reforms of the United Nations.

 

Niyazov agreed with Hu's suggestions saying that to strengthen friendly relations with China is in the interest of the Turkmenistan people.

 

With new consensus reached by the two presidents last year, the two countries have witnessed new development of the bilateral mutually-beneficial cooperation, Niyazov noted.

 

Turkmenistan is ready to make concerted efforts with China in pushing for the development of bilateral relations, so as to achieve more cooperation in economic, trade, energy and resource development.

 

Niyazov expressed appreciation for China's long-term assistance to Turkmenistan, and reiterated that Turkmenistan would continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)