Today, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, at the invitation of the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, took part in the Digital Summit on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the countries of Central Asia.

The heads of other states of the Central Asian region - President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also participated in the high-level online meeting.

Comprehensive strengthening of political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties with these partner countries is an important vector of the foreign policy strategy of sovereign Turkmenistan, under the leadership of the leader of the nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov steadily implementing the policy of «open doors» and broad international cooperation.

Welcoming the distinguished participants of the Summit, President Xi Jinping thanked his colleagues for accepting the invitation to participate in the current meeting and, taking this opportunity, congratulated them on the New Year 2022 and the significant date marked this year - the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the countries of Central Asia.

The demonstrated special video clearly reflected the important milestones and achievements of the constructive cooperation successfully developed over the years, which is based on the mutual will and common desire of the parties for peace, prosperity, stability and sustainable socio-economic development.

The floor is given to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In his speech, the head of state, first of all, expressed gratitude to the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping for the initiative to convene a summit meeting on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries of Central Asia and China.

As the Turkmen leader emphasized, the very fact of its holding testifies to the importance attached to relations between the countries of Central Asia and the People's Republic of China, understanding the importance of steadily strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation.

Today, cooperation between our countries has a noticeable constructive impact on ensuring global peace and stability. It is based on the similarity or coincidence of our approaches to fundamental issues on the global agenda. Together with China, the countries of Central Asia stand for equality and justice in international affairs, unconditional respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states, for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, supporting the measures taken by the world community to effectively counter international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, new challenges, including in the field of cyber and bio-security, the head of Turkmenistan continued.

We assign a special place to the situation in Central Asia. Here the basic principles of our countries are also close: the states of the region and the People's Republic of China stand for the creation of a strong security system in this part of the globe.

In this context, the Turkmen leader stressed that the issues of ensuring security and stability were and remain most relevant topics on the regional agenda.

Addressing the participants of the Summit, the head of Turkmenistan noted that the joint potential, powerful resource, industrial and technological base open up great prospects for cooperation in the economy. One of its priorities is the fuel and energy sector, the flagship of which was the construction and commissioning at the end of 2009 of the strategic gas pipeline Turkmenistan-China, passing through the territories of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The implementation of this project served as an example of a true partnership based on equality, awareness of multilateral benefits, large-scale vision of the prospects and opportunities that opened up with the start of the gas pipeline.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also noted that the presence of objective mutual interests allows the countries of Central Asia and China to successfully build up partnerships in the transport sector.

«In this context, I believe that the project «Revival of the Great Silk Road» in its philosophy and geo-economic meaning is connected with the Chinese global initiative «One Belt - One Road», the head of Turkmenistan emphasized.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also highlighted the common approach of the states of Central Asia and China to international cooperation in combating the pandemic. We are talking, first of all, about the support by our countries of the UN General Assembly Resolution on global solidarity in the fight against coronavirus disease, adopted during its 74th session.

Our countries recognize the leading role of WHO in the global fight against the pandemic, oppose its politicization, the leader of the nation emphasized, focusing on the need to unite all the scientific forces of the world in studying the origin of the coronavirus, which is one of the most important conditions for successfully combating this global challenge. We believe that in the Central Asia-China format, we could soon begin to create a mechanism for regular meetings between representatives of the scientific and medical communities of our countries, epidemiological and sanitary services, and other relevant departments, the head of Turkmenistan continued, proposing to hold the first such meeting already in the current year.

«As for vaccination as a necessary condition for a complete victory over the coronavirus, we hope for the successful continuation of the established cooperation on this issue with the Chinese partners», the leader of the nation said.

Addressing the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that China would soon host the Winter Olympic Games. Expressing confidence that they will be held at the highest level and become a real celebration of sports, peace and friendship for millions of people around the world, the head of Turkmenistan wished Chinese friends success in holding the upcoming Olympics, congratulating all the Chinese people on this great event.

Together we confidently follow the path of progress, having clear plans and guidelines, helping and supporting each other, relying on the great historical heritage and understanding of modern trends in the world order. Our relations today are indestructible and unshakable, and I am convinced that they will always be so, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized at the end of his speech.

Congratulating the Chairman of the People's Republic of China and his colleagues - the Presidents of the Central Asian states and, in their person, the fraternal peoples on this glorious anniversary, Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished everyone good health, peace, happiness, well-being and prosperity.

The speech of the head of the Turkmen state was heard with deep, interested attention.

President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping thanked President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his wonderful speech, congratulations on the upcoming Chinese New Year and the opening Winter Olympics in Beijing, as well as useful ideas and proposals voiced at the Summit.

As noted, Turkmenistan, as a permanently neutral state, actively participates in regional affairs, playing an important role in strengthening regional peace, trust and stability. 

Emphasizing the currently observed high dynamics in the development of Chinese-Turkmen relations, the President of the People's Republic of China focused on the active promotion of partnership in the energy and other sectors of the economy, which brings tangible results.

The head of the friendly state emphasized the great prospects for cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, taking into account joint plans to increase the volume of natural gas supplies to China through the construction of the 4th branch of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, and also expressed confidence in the successful continuation of effective cooperation in other areas of the economy.

«I am ready to work with you to promote further development of bilateral relations, as well as to contribute to the development of cooperation between China and the states of Central Asia» Xi Jinping concluded.

Thus, neutral Turkmenistan, successfully implementing the peacekeeping foreign policy strategy of the leader of the nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, reiterated its commitment to a constructive dialogue in the «Central Asia – China» format, demonstrating balanced, far-sighted approaches to building long-term mutually beneficial cooperation and solving urgent problems of our time.