In Ashgabat Sunday, China and Turkmenistan lauded the good development of bilateral relations and vowed to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields.

 

The agreement was reached in talks between visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

 

China and Turkmenistan have regarded each other as reliable friends and partners and supported each other on issues of major concern, Wen said, adding that China is satisfied with the growth momentum of bilateral relations since the two nations forged diplomatic ties 15 years ago.

 

Both nations, which share a common aspiration to promote bilateral relations, are facing tasks in economic development and maintaining regional peace and stability, Wen said.

 

He spoke highly of Turkmenistan's long-term adherence to the one-China policy and the country's support for China on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet, and in its fight against the Eastern Turkistan terrorist group.

 

China will continue providing its support for Turkmenistan to safeguard national sovereignty and help the country promote economic development, said Wen. The Chinese premier also put forward a four-point proposal on further improving Sino-Turkmenistan relations.

 

Wen called on Turkmenistan to intensify its exchange and cooperation with China to increase political mutual trust and deepen the two-way trade cooperation by launching a bilateral economic and trade commission in the near future.

 

"(The two countries) should give full play to their industrial advantages, expand cooperation in specialized fields and further implement the agreed projects to step up bilateral trade cooperation to a new level," said the Chinese premier.

 

Wen also suggested the two nations expand humanitarian exchange, especially among the younger generation, and strengthen bilateral cooperation on security issues to promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

 

Calling Turkmenistan an important nation in central Asia, Wen said China appreciates its permanent neutrality, adding that China favors the establishment of a United Nations (UN) Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat.

 

Hailing the development of bilateral relations, Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan and China share identical or similar views on many significant issues, noting that bilateral cooperation would serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples as well as the maintenance of regional peace and stability.

 

The Turkmen side will work closely with its Chinese partners on implementing a natural gas pipeline project, Berdymukhamedov said.

 

China and Turkmenistan signed a natural gas supply contract in July during Berdymukhamedov's visit to China. Under the agreement, China National Petroleum Corporation, the largest Chinese oil producer, will import from Turkmenistan 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually through the planned Central Asia Gas Pipeline for 30 years.

 

The Turkmen president also reiterated his readiness to unwaveringly uphold the One-China policy and cooperate with the Chinese side to jointly combat the "Three Evil Forces" (terrorism, extremism, and separatism).

 

Invited by Berdymukhamedov, Wen arrived in Ashgabat on Saturday evening for an official visit, which coincided with the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

 

This was the second leg of Wen's four-nation visit, which first took him to Uzbekistan. He will also visit Belarus and Russia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2007)