As part of their working visit to the capital of Turkmenistan, journalists from the Central Asia Department of the Chinese “Xinhua” News Agency (Astana) met with employees of the Scientific Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on March 26.

Prior to that, correspondents from China had several meetings with their colleagues from the Turkmen media: they visited local television, some editorial offices of electronic publications, as well as the Turkmen News Agency TDH.

The main purpose of the visit of Chinese specialists to Ashgabat is to establish working contacts with journalists of local publications, exchange practical experience, coordinate cooperation in the field of media platforms and information exchange aimed at further strengthening cooperation between the countries.

A business exchange of views on topical issues of the Central Asian region took place at the Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Zhao Yu, Director of the Central Asian Department of the “Xinhua” News Agency, shared his vision of the pressing issues of cooperation between the Central Asian countries and China.

In turn, the staff of the Scientific Center for Strategic Studies at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan spoke about Turkmenistan's achievements related to gaining independence and declaring the country's neutrality. There was a mutual desire to use their opportunities to widely publicize the anniversary celebrations related to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality. In addition, the Chinese side noted the desire to directly participate in the anniversary celebrations.

The meeting ended with an agreement to activate working contacts, including with the possibility of exchanging mutual visits to the PRC by analysts of Turkmenistan and Ashgabat by the journalists of “Xinhua”.