On occasion of the visit of Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao to Ashgabat PRC Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Lu Guychen gave an interview:

“On the invitation of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao pays an official visit to Turkmenistan on November 3-4. This visit called upon to bring Chinese-Turkmen co-operation up to a higher level is an important meeting between the leaders of the two countries and of paramount importance for active implementation of the bilateral agreements.

“As it is known, maintaining the dynamics of bilateral relations President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov paid the visit to China this summer and held the fruitful friendly talks with President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao. The leaders achieved an agreement on further intensification and development of the ties of friendship and co-operation between China and Turkmenistan and issued a number of the bilateral documents. The friendly personal relations established between the two leaders profoundly enhanced the political mutual understanding.

“In recent years trade and economic co-operation between China and Turkmenistan was intensified. With every passing year both countries develop and open the new fields for collaboration that resulted in a great number of the large-scale economic and technical co-operation projects. The priority fields of long-term interstate trade and economic collaboration include oil and gas industry, in which many joint projects were implemented.

“This year has been marked with the start of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline project. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov took part in the ceremony of laying the gas pipeline that served as a symbolical act of switching from the ideas to the action. Starting in Bagtyyralyk area the gas pipeline will enable China to meet the energy deficit. It will bring benefit to the peoples of our countries and promote economic development of the transit countries and the whole region thus.

“It should be noted that the priority fields of Chinese-Turkmen include the spheres of transport and telecommunications, textile and chemical industries that bring mutual benefit. The humanitarian co-operation serving in all times as the bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between the nations is successfully enhanced. In recent years several Chinese artistic groups visited Turkmenistan. The Chinese scientists take an active part in the international conferences held in Ashgabat and share experience with their Turkmen colleagues and friends. The contacts are intensified in the spheres of tourism am education, the number of the Turkmen young people, who study at the higher educational establishments in China, has considerably increased.

“We are glad about the economic reforms implemented in Turkmenistan and the changes that open the vast opportunities for expanding traditional co-operation between our friendly countries. I am sure that the visit of Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao will be fruitful and offer a powerful incentive to develop the relations between China and Turkmenistan.

“In conclusion I would like to wish highly respected President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov happiness and success and the hospitable people of Turkmenistan - peace, wellbeing and all the best.”