Held talks with President Sherdar of Turkmenistan

On January 6, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov of Turkmenistan for a state visit to China in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This is before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Sherdar Berdmukhamedov in the north hall of the Great Hall of the People.

On the morning of January 6, President Xi Jinping held talks in the Great Hall of the People with President of Turkmenistan, Sherdar Berdmukhamedov, who came to China for a state visit. The two heads of state announced that they would upgrade Sino-Turkmenistan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that this is your first visit to China since taking office as president. Today is the anniversary of Sino-Turkmenistan diplomatic relations. We comprehensively plan the next development of Sino-Turkmenistan relations and jointly announce the promotion of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partner, which is of great significance. The Communist Party of China is uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups in the country to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization, and Turkmenistan is actively promoting Turkmenistan's revival strategy. China and Turkmenistan have common ideas, similar goals and interests. On the road of development and revitalization, we should work together to give full play to complementary advantages, explore the potential of cooperation, and achieve common development. China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to continue to deepen all-round cooperation between China and Turkmenistan, promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Turkmenistan, so that relations between the two countries can develop at a higher level.

President Xi Jinping stressed that the construction of a community of destiny between China and Turkmenistan is to better deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, take care of each other's concerns and consolidate intergenerational friendship on the basis of mutual respect, honesty and mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win. The two sides should support each other on issues of mutual core interests and respect each other's development path in line with their national conditions. The two countries should accelerate the development strategy docking, give full play to the role of the Sino-Turkmenistan Cooperation Council and other mechanisms, continuously expand the breadth and depth of cooperation, and support the relations between the two countries with practical cooperation achievements. In the face of new international and regional situations and challenges, the two sides should deepen law enforcement security and biosafety cooperation, jointly crack down on the "three forces" and build a security barrier to maintain the development of the two countries. The two sides should strengthen exchanges in various fields and at all levels, carry out cultural cooperation, deepen people's feelings, and strengthen public opinion and social foundation for the sustainable and healthy development of bilateral relations.

President Xi Jinping stressed that the two sides should give priority to expanding energy cooperation. Natural gas cooperation is the cornerstone of Sino-Turkmenistan relations, and expanding natural gas cooperation is in line with the strategic and long-term interests of both China and Turkmenistan. The two sides should accelerate the implementation of major project cooperation, and at the same time, comprehensively tap the potential for cooperation in green energy, natural gas utilization, technical equipment and other fields, and build cooperation in the whole industrial chain. The two sides should steadily promote economic and trade cooperation, implement the Cooperation Plan of the Turkmenistan Government on Expanding Economic Relations, and explore new ways and methods to expand economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. China supports more powerful Chinese-funded enterprises to invest in China. It is necessary to accelerate the promotion of interconnection and improve the level of personnel exchanges between the two countries. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Turkmenistan have actively carried out vaccine cooperation, which fully reflects the concept of cooperation in the same boat and overcome difficulties. The two sides should continue to strengthen medical and health cooperation and exchanges in the field of traditional medicine, and accelerate the establishment of traditional medicine centers in Turkmenistan. Continue to maintain close cultural exchanges, accelerate the construction of cultural centers, and build Luban Workshop as soon as possible. It is necessary to expand cooperation in news, media and other fields, hold the activities of the Sino-Turkmenistan Cultural Year from 2023 to 2024, and support the expansion of local cooperation between the two countries.

President Xi Jinping stressed that the "China + Five Central Asian Countries" cooperation mechanism is a new mechanism for cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, open and transparent, mutually beneficial and win-win, equal and mutually beneficial, pragmatic. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Turkmenistan to hold the first "China + Five Central Asian Countries" summit. Both China and Turkmenistan advocate maintaining peace and promoting development, and are fellow travelers to promote global governance reform. China supports constructive cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and is willing to work with Turkmenistan to practice true multilateralism and jointly promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov said that he was pleased to pay his first state visit to China on the historic day of the 31st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and China. Turkmenistan-China friendly exchanges have a long history, and the ancient Silk Road closely connects the two countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, especially the establishment of strategic partnerships in 2013, the multi-level exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields have achieved fruitful results, the friendship between the people has become deeper, and the friendly relations have been increasingly consolidated. Turkmenistan highly values the development achievements of bilateral relations and is deeply proud of the high-level mutual trust and cooperation achievements of the two countries. It is willing to strengthen exchanges with China, learn from China's successful development experience, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in an all-round way, and achieve common development. Turkmenistan firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly opposes any attempt to split China. Turkmenistan is willing to actively promote the connection between the "Revival of the Silk Road" strategy and the "Belt and Road" initiative, further expand economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, strengthen energy cooperation such as natural gas, and promote the interconnection construction of cross-border railways, and better benefit the people of the two countries. Turkmenistan also looks forward to closer cooperation with China in cultural, educational and other cultural exchanges and medical and health fields. Turkmenistan is willing to work with China to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partner, and jointly promote the construction of a community with a shared future between Turkmenistan and China to bring more well-being to the two peoples.

President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov said that I would like to congratulate the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China once again on its success. Under the wise and strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made great achievements in economic and social development and played an important and constructive role in promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable international order. The Communist Party of China is the backbone of the Chinese people. Turkmenistan firmly believes that China will make greater achievements in the future and make greater contributions to maintaining world peace, stability and prosperity. Turkmenistan and China have the same or similar views on many international and regional issues, and are willing to increase mutual support and cooperate more closely with China. Turkmenistan highly appreciates and fully supports the "China + Central Asian Five" cooperation mechanism, and is willing to actively support China to successfully hold the "China + Central Asian Five" summit to jointly maintain regional security and development.

After the talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and Turkmenistan, jointly witnessing the signing of cooperation documents in the Belt and Road Initiative, green development, digital economy, health, culture, sports, news media, natural gas and other fields.

Before the talks, President Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

21 salutes were fired in Tiananmen Square, and the salutes lined up to pay tribute. The heads of state of the two countries appeared on the inspection stage, and the military orchestra played the national anthems of China and Turkmenistan. President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov, accompanied by President Xi Jinping, reviewed the honor guard of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the split ceremony.

At noon that day, President Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for President Sherdar Berdmukhamedov in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others participated in relevant activities.

Six Deputy Prime Ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Meredov of Turkmenistan, accompanied the visit and participated in relevant activities.