Xi Jinping Exchanges Messages of Congratulations with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Turkmenistan Diplomatic Relations

On January 6, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out, since the establishment of diplomatic relations 30 years ago, China-Turkmenistan relations have achieved leapfrog development. China is the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan, the country of the first batches to support Turkmenistan's policy of permanent neutrality, the first strategic partner established through a political document, and the largest natural gas trading partner of Turkmenistan. The development of China-Turkmenistan relations has not only brought tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples, but also made important contributions to maintaining regional peace and stability.

Xi Jinping stressed, China attaches great importance to the relations with Turkmenistan and will, as always, firmly support Turkmenistan in following the development path suited to its own national conditions, safeguarding national sovereignty and independence, and pursuing the policy of permanent neutrality. I am ready to keep close contact with you and take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to continue to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and jointly promote China-Turkmenistan strategic partnership to a new level, so as to benefit the two countries and two peoples.

Berdymukhamedov said, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Turkmenistan and China have been carrying out comprehensive cooperation in the widest range of fields and have established a unique multi-level collaboration mechanism. China has been the main trading partner of Turkmenistan for many years, which is a live manifestation of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Turkmenistan attaches great importance to Turkmenistan-China relations, and will work closely with China based on the principles of equal treatment, mutual respect and accommodation of each other's interests, and make every effort to promote Turkmenistan-China relations to reach a higher level.