Today Beijing is in the focus of global attention: on August 8, 2008 the Olympic fire that is to flame during the XXIX Summer Olympic Games blazed up there.

Our life is full of symbols. The Olympic Games – the unique in the history of mankind example of embodiment of the ideas of peace through sports, culture, international co-operation asserting the high principles of vital importance for the modern civilization – confidence and goodwill, the willingness to live in peace, concord and unity are not the exception.

It is symbolic that the guests from different parts of the planet – as if reflecting the slogan of the global sporting event One World One Dream gathered at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in the Chinese capital that hosted the official ceremony of opening the 2008 Olympic Games. It was symbolic that from there President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – the leader of the country that stood resolutely as a source of goodwill, humane undertakings on the world arena and pursued the policy viewed by the people of Turkmenistan and the entire world as a symbol of peace and stability, a symbol of hopes, greeted for the first time the Olympic competitors from Turkmenistan and all over the world.

The universal recognition, profound confidence in this policy and deep respect to the leader of the Turkmen state whom the modern history and future of Turkmenistan heading for the heights of the economic, scientific and technical, social progress is associated with, can be judged by the attention devoted to the Turkmen delegation and sportsmen tin Beijing, the atmosphere of sincere cordially and hospitality following them everywhere.

Before the opening ceremony the President had a meeting with the Turkmen sportsmen in Beijing. Encouraging the sportsmen, who were to accomplish the important and honorary mission – to present the sports achievements and uphold the country’s honour at the main sporting event of the planet, the Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan’s participation in the Olympic competitions was another opportunity to demonstrate Turkmenistan’s openness and friendliness, its willingness to maintain wide mutually advantageous co-operation.

“Sport is a living embodiment of strength, beauty, health and aspiration for the heights of the progress,” the President said noting that the Government would provide overall support to the Olympic movement as the summit of global sports achievements and continue to attach priority importance to propagation of sport and physical culture. The meeting with the President was very important for the sportsmen as they could feel the personal support of the national leader and the whole country.

It is remarkable that the Olympic Games in Beijing coincide with a historic period of a breakthrough and intensification of the Turkmen-Chinese relations on the basis of the existing experience as well as both countries’ endeavours to establish a new, dynamic format of partnership with due regard to the its huge potential. It was not occasional that the Turkmen leader’s visit to Beijing along with the honorary mission of the tutor and inspirer of the Turkmen sportsmen was regarded as an evidence of those crucial role and high prestige won by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s effectively policy. The potential of Turkmenistan as well as its policy received the status-quo fitting the moment backed by the recognition of the world community represented by the pick of the world’s political elite in the Chinese capital. Joining the club of high politics is a high honour as well as worthy appreciation of the achievements of the country and its leader that are advancing in the vanguard of the global movement towards progress and prosperity.

In this advance Turkmenistan and China are akin to the Olympic competitors, who have made a good start. Developing this comparison it can be said that another Olympic track is the Great Silk Route serving today for both nations as a modern symbol of competition in concerting the countries’ goodwill, talents, efforts as well as wealth for peace and creation.

The Great Silk Route can be rightfully called one of the earliest transnational transport corridors. Nowadays, the relations between the two countries have been brought up to a higher level though transportation links are a priority trend of co-operation as before. That was vividly testified to during the talks between President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the top managers of the Chinese large companies in Beijing. Thus, the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline Project was the focus of the talks with the China National Petroleum Corporation. The Chinese businessmen informed that the works to establish the relevant infrastructure in the gas fields on the right bank of the Amu Darya River where the new gas main started from were carried on and the construction of the section of the pipeline crossing the territory of China had been completed. The capacity of the gas pipeline would be 40 billion cubic metres that allowed the Chinese partners to would increase gas import in addition to 30 billion cubic metres as stipulated by the intergovernmental agreement.

The joint projects were discussed during the talks with the top managers of Huawei Technologies and ZTE. Expressing the willingness to expand on the Turkmen market the Chinese partners suggested considering the opportunities of applying Huawei solar-assisted e-learning technologies via satellite communication. The ZTE top managers put forward the same proposals. The Turkmen leader suggested that ZTE would implement a pilot project to provide communication software to the schools and settlements on the islands in the Caspian Sea

Innovative technologies used during the ceremony of opening the XXIX Summer Olympic Games were the focus of the talks between the Turkmen leader and the top manager of LENOVO – one of the general sponsors of the 2008 Olympic Games. Noting that Turkmenistan relied on introduction of advanced technologies and latest scientific and technological advances Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited LENOVO to collaborate in computerization of schools and higher educational establishments, railway and other types of transport, landscape design in the Turkmen capital and equipment of the future Olympic village.

A powerful incentive to develop the intergovernmental dialogue will be created by the forthcoming visit of Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao to Turkmenistan that both leaders agreed upon in Beijing. Though their meeting was unofficial it reflected the deeply cordial relations penetrated with the spirit of fraternity and openness between the leaders of the ancient nations as well as by the nations, who were reviving the Great Silk Route that leads to the happy peaceful tomorrow.

Thus, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to China was another vivid evidence of independent neutral Turkmenistan’s uncontestable contribution to global development and the recognition of the Turkmen leader’s services in this important cause. Honesty and openness, the willingness to use the country’s huge peacemaking and economic potential for the common benefit – here is that distinguish any actions undertaken by the leader of the Turkmen state, who is aware of his responsibility to the world community as well as people of Turkmenistan and sees the only correct, the only true way among all other present-day movements and routes in this interrelated responsibility. The Turkmen leader’s initiatives aimed at constructive integration, development of mutually advantageous partnership in energy sector, the sphere of trade and economy, transport and communication, tourism, science, education, culture evoke a keen response among progressively thinking people, politicians, businessmen and ordinary people in different countries worldwide.

The humanism of the Turkmen leader’s policy becomes apparent in the concern for children. Last week Ashgabat hosted the Golden Generation of the Golden Age International Children’s Art Festival that testified to the profound attention devoted in the country to a younger generation. The representative forum was not a mere competition as it aimed to strengthen the ties of friendship and creative co-operation among children from different parts of the world, to propagate the rich spiritual heritage and present-day accomplishments of the Turkmen people worldwide. Having had a wonderful time in Turkmenistan the young guests brought the splendid recollections of the beautiful land in Central Asia with deeply peculiar history and culture home and became its admirers and friends.

From ancient times Turkmenistan was called ‘the crossing of seven roads of world’. The trade routes and transportation lines crossing its territory and used over many centuries, cultural and economic ties and traditions of friendship and fraternity stand today as the greatest property of the Turkmen people. They are carefully maintained and replenished in the new historical epoch. In this regard the international forums held in the country such as the Children’s Art Festival or Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition and Conference promote mutual enrichment of cultures, exchange of the best achievements in the spheres of education, science and economy – all that underlies the humane and creative policy of the epoch of Great Revival.