Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Turkmen counterpart, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, lauded bilateral ties in New York on Monday, pledging to further all-round cooperation.

Hu said bilateral relations enjoy an excellent momentum as both countries are conducting frequent high-level exchanges, fruitful cooperation in economy, energy, humanities and other fields, and have been steadily strengthening political mutual trust.

The two sides support each other on major issues of mutual concern and cooperate soundly within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, having made significant contributions to the promotion of regional and world peace and development, he said.

During the meeting, the Chinese president put forward a five-point proposal on furthering relations between China and Turkmenistan:

-- Maintaining close contacts, improving cooperative mechanisms while sustaining the momentum of high-level exchanges;

-- Properly implementing the Turkmen-Chinese natural gas pipeline project, an economic endeavor that benefits both countries and other nations in the region. China stands ready to work with Turkmenistan to ensure the commission and completion of the project according to schedule;

-- Strengthening cooperation in areas other than resources, including textiles, chemicals, telecommunication, infrastructure. Both sides can formulate long-term cooperation programs, specify priorities and follow through agreed projects;

-- Promoting cultural exchanges to cement the foundation of bilateral friendship. China is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Turkmenistan in such areas as education, culture, sports, and tourism, and welcomes more Turkmen students to come to study in China. China stands ready to help Turkmenistan establish Confucius institutes;

-- Deepening security cooperation to meet security challenges in Central Asia, working together to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, including "East Turkistan" forces, so as to guarantee security and stability in both countries and the Central Asian region at large.

Berdymukhamedov, for his part, spoke highly of Turkmen-Chinese ties and excellent bilateral cooperation, noting that bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially in energy, chemicals, construction, transport and education, has been deepening steadily thanks to the efforts of both sides.

He described the Turkmen-Chinese natural gas pipeline as an act of friendship, urging to commission the project on schedule.

Berdymukhamedov expressed his appreciation of China's understanding and support of its stance and views on energy security.

The Turkmen president pledged to strengthen regional security cooperation with China and to jointly maintain regional peace and stability on the basis of the United Nations Charter.

Hu and Berdymukhamedov are in New York for the United Nations climate change summit and the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2009)