Xi Jinping Meets with National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov

On the morning of October 19, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). 

Xi Jinping pointed out that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of Turkmenistan. In January this year, he and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the establishment of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level, opening a new chapter in the development of China-Turkmenistan relations. Developing a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan meets the fundamental interests of both countries and the common aspirations of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to promote the sustained and steady growth of bilateral relations in line with the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Xi Jinping emphasized that mutual support is a core tenet of the China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future. China appreciates Turkmenistan’s strong support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and will continue to support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests and in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions. China is ready to enhance the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s strategy of reviving the Great Silk Road, making the ancient Silk Road a “road to happiness” in the new era. Xi said both sides need to scale up trade and expand cooperation in areas such as medical and health care, sports, tourism, and culture, ensure the success of the Year of Culture in each other’s country, and enable the establishment of Luban Workshop in Turkmenistan at an early date. China will work with Turkmenistan to implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit to better advance cooperation across the board.

Berdimuhamedov said China and Turkmenistan have a profound tradition of good-neighborliness, and bilateral friendship has grown ever stronger over time. The ancient Silk Road has connected the people of Turkmenistan and China, and contributed to the progress of world civilization. Today, close synergy has been forged between Turkmenistan’s strategy of reviving the Great Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative, which has greatly facilitated the connectivity, development and revitalization of both countries as well as countries in the region. President Xi Jinping’s important speech at the opening ceremony of the third BRF has pointed the direction for future cooperation. Berdimuhamedov noted that both sides need to carry forward the friendship, pass down the brotherly relationship from generation to generation, maintain mutual trust, understanding and support, deepen bilateral economic and energy cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and closely coordinate in multilateral mechanisms such as the China-Central Asia Summit, so as to deliver more fruitful results in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and China to the benefit of the two peoples and contribute to the prosperity and development of the region.

Leaders of both countries jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents, including an agreement on economic and technical cooperation.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the above events.