Xi calls for enhancing China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for enhancing China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership, saying it serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the shared aspiration of the two peoples.

China will continue to work with Turkmenistan to push for sustained steady growth of bilateral relations, Xi said when meeting with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

Xi said that China is willing to strengthen the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road.

He pointed out that the two sides should expand the scale of bilateral trade, enhance cooperation in medical and health care, sports and tourism, and build the Luban Workshop in Turkmenistan at an early date.

Berdimuhamedov said President Xi's keynote speech at the opening of the third BRF charted the course for future cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides should continue to deepen economic and energy cooperation as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and strengthen multilateral communication and coordination within frameworks such as the China-Central Asia mechanism, said Berdimuhamedov.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering sectors such as economic and technological cooperation.

Senior Chinese leaders including Cai Qi and Wang Yi were present at the events.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, who is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)