China, Turkmenistan to expand cooperation in various fields

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov before having talks in Ashgabat August 29, 2008.
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov have agreed to expand cooperation in various fields so as to push the friendly ties forward, according to a joint statement issued here Friday.

The two leaders noted with satisfaction that bilateral ties have enjoyed sound and steady development and yielded rich fruits in recent years.

They agreed further development and consolidation of bilateral ties will continue to guide the foreign policies of both countries.

COOPERATION IN POLITICS

The two countries will continue to exchange high-level official visits and conduct exchanges at various levels, the statement said, adding that efforts will be intensified to implement bilateral agreements in a bid to boost mutual political trust.

The two nations will strengthen communication between the two parliaments, conduct friendly exchanges and cooperation at various levels and further improve the legal basis for bilateral cooperation, the statement added.

President Hu hailed the remarkable achievements made by Turkmenistan in national construction and social-economic development, reaffirming China's staunch support to the Central Asian country in choosing its own model of development suited to its national realities.


Chinese President Hu Jintao in the company of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov reviews the honour guard at a welcmoing ceremony in Ashgabat August 29, 2008. Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov Friday in Ashgabat for talks on the promotion of bilateral relations.
President Berdymukhamedov reiterated his country's adherence to the one-China policy, saying that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and that Turkmenistan opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" and supports all efforts by the Chinese government to realize national reunification.

Hu thanked Turkmenistan for its unwavering support to China in cracking down on the East Turkistan terrorists and the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The two leaders also pledged to enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and intensify coordination on international and regional issues, in an effort to create better external conditions for the development of both countries.

COOPERATION IN ECONOMY & TRADE

According to the joint statement, a Sino-Turkmen cooperation committee is to be founded to comprehensively promote bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, security, culture and education.

Both sides promised to give prominence to win-win economic cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, based on which the two nations will boost bilateral cooperation in energy, transportation, telecommunications, chemical industry, textile and building materials.

Both countries will create favorable conditions to expedite contracted projects and make sure the Sino-Turkmen natural gas pipeline goes into service as scheduled.


Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov after being awarded the "Niyazov" medal by the latter in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, August 29, 2008.
The two sides will also provide favorable conditions with the permission of law for natural, legal and other economic entities of both countries to engage in investment, trade and economic and technology cooperation.

The legal framework for bilateral economic cooperation will be further strengthened, the statement said.

Both sides are determined to further enhance cooperation in culture, education, arts, sports, education, public health and tourism.

President Hu Jintao arrived in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat on Thursday night for a state visit aimed at pushing forward the friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations.

Source: Xinhua