President of Turkmenistan: Working together to build a path of friendship and cooperation
President Berdimuhamedov
First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the People’s Daily editorial office for your proposal to publish this article on the eve of the Turkmenistan delegation’s visit to the People’s Republic of China. I gladly accepted the offer. I believe that direct communication with readers through the authoritative and influential People’s Daily platform will help us better understand the essence of Turkmenistan-China relations and more clearly grasp the current and future cooperation between the two countries to serve the fundamental interests of the people and promote common development.
Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China have developed bilateral relations as sovereign states for over three decades. Although this period is brief in the long river of history, the two countries have achieved fruitful and constructive results in their cooperation. We have established close political, economic, trade, and cultural ties, institutionalized high-level exchanges, and strengthened the legal basis for cooperation.
In September 2013, Turkmenistan-China relations reached a historic moment when the two sides signed the “Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China” in Ashgabat, setting the tone and charting the course for the long-term development of bilateral relations. In May 2014, the two sides adopted the “Joint Declaration on Developing and Deepening the Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China” and the “Strategic Partnership Development Plan between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China” (2014-2018).
While fully acknowledging the current achievements in bilateral relations, we must not overlook the shared historical heritage that has spanned millennia and united the two peoples. I firmly believe that it is this profound heritage that provides the strongest and most fundamental foundation for the present-day Turkmen-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
Historical documents, chronicles, and literary texts bear conclusive testimony to the close political, commercial, and cultural exchanges between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples over many centuries. Over the centuries, the two peoples have developed a unique way of interacting with each other, continuously enhancing their mutual understanding. This has been a beneficial, positive, and constructive process, spanning multiple sectors and profoundly influencing the development of Asian civilizations. It has also promoted the prosperity and development of the peoples of Turkmenistan and China, as well as peoples of countries and regions across the continent (both near and far), and fostered mutual learning among all peoples on both material and spiritual levels. The Silk Road is the most central bond in the history written jointly by our two peoples. I firmly believe that today, we see ourselves as the inheritors and progenitors of this historical legacy. This is both a historical necessity and profoundly rational and authentic. For this reason, when discussing China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s Silk Road Revival strategy, we emphasized the close alignment and inherent unity between these two major initiatives, both in terms of philosophy and practical approach.
Currently, political interaction between Turkmenistan and China is based on high mutual trust, openness, and constructive dialogue. Meetings and negotiations between the leaders of our two countries have always been rich, responsible strategic dialogues covering key areas of bilateral cooperation and coordination in international affairs.
On major principles of global governance, Turkmenistan and China share similar positions and views. Both countries firmly advocate building an international security and stability system based on equality, mutual respect, fairness, justice, stability, and predictability, and taking into account the interests of all countries. The UN Charter and the international legal system are the cornerstones of this international order. Turkmenistan and China have consistently cooperated on this issue within multilateral frameworks, and mutual support has become a fine tradition between the two countries within multilateral mechanisms. This stems from both countries’ profound insight and strategic foresight into the long-term development of international affairs. China’s support for Turkmenistan’s neutrality is a vivid manifestation of this approach. China’s high international prestige and constructive stance played a significant role in the adoption of the first and subsequent UN General Assembly resolutions on Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality and in promoting international recognition of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. Today, Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality has become a positive factor in international and regional politics, providing strong support for China’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and good-neighborly friendship in Asia and globally.
Correspondingly, Turkmenistan has consistently maintained a fair, candid, and principled position on issues concerning China’s core interests, including supporting China in safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity and jointly opposing terrorism, extremism, and separatism. On the international political stage, Turkey and China jointly advocate for enhancing the voice of developing countries in global affairs and for the international community to prioritize the concerns and status of developing countries in areas such as energy security, food security, disease prevention and control, and human rights protection (especially fundamental rights such as the right to life, safety, and health).
In this regard, it is particularly important to recall the solidarity and mutual assistance Turkey and China demonstrated during the most challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkmenistan remains grateful for China’s valuable support in the supply of medical supplies and equipment. The ancient Chinese saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” truly captures the Turkish-Chinese relationship—our friendship has withstood severe tests.
In recent years, regional cooperation between Turkey and China has continued to deepen and strengthen. Under the China-Central Asia framework, the two sides maintain fruitful communication. Turkmenistan actively and regularly participates in summits of major multilateral mechanisms of which China is a member. It is particularly noteworthy that our delegation will attend the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit as the guest of the chair country.
Speaking of bilateral cooperation, I would like to emphasize the current state and future prospects of the Turkey-China strategic partnership in the economic sector, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors. I firmly believe that the potential for cooperation between our two sides in these areas is enormous, and we have already achieved significant results, which will have a positive and far-reaching impact on the geo-economic landscape of Eurasia.
In the energy sector, the Turkmenistan-China natural gas pipeline, completed and put into operation in 2009, is a model of strategic cooperation. This world-class, ambitious project embodies the political will and determination of the leaders of both countries and demonstrates the capacity and potential for cooperation between the two sides. This pipeline is not only an energy channel for delivering large quantities of Turkmenistan’s natural gas to China, but also a model for building a fair, mutually beneficial, and sustainable Eurasian energy security system. We have reason to be proud of this. It has injected strong impetus into the economic development of both Turkey and China, promoted the development of transit countries, and profoundly shaped the landscape of Eurasian energy cooperation. Turkey-China energy cooperation will continue to deepen, and its economic rationale and long-term interests for all parties have been fully demonstrated.
The importance of Turkey-China transportation cooperation is also becoming increasingly prominent. As mentioned above, the two countries share a high degree of alignment and common vision in their transportation strategies. This has laid a solid foundation for leveraging their geographical advantages, financial resources, organizational capabilities, and political and diplomatic resources to build an integrated, comprehensive, east-west transportation and logistics corridor. The development of this corridor is an effective path to promoting economic integration and development between Asia and Europe based on the principles of mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and equal cooperation. It holds broad prospects and enormous potential. Turkmenistan and China shoulder important missions in this process, and we are deeply grateful to our Chinese partners for their demonstrated willingness to cooperate. I firmly believe that this ambitious transcontinental project will be successfully implemented and become another important pillar of the Turkmenistan-China strategic partnership in the 21st century.
Looking back at history, the centuries-long experience of economic and trade exchanges between the peoples of Turkmenistan and China remains of vital practical significance today. We should jointly explore and effectively utilize this valuable legacy to promote current practical economic and trade cooperation. There is broad potential for cooperation between the business communities of Turkmenistan and China. Initiatives such as reviving and expanding traditional trade, promoting trade diversification, and implementing small and medium-sized enterprise cooperation projects will effectively boost the development of related industries in both countries, bring tangible commercial benefits to both sides, improve people’s well-being and living standards, and address social issues. During the bilateral economic dialogue, we attach great importance to investment cooperation. Both sides have reached consensus and demonstrated positive willingness to advance substantive cooperation projects. The governments will also fully support this cooperation. This gives us reason to be confident about the future and to work together to chart a broader blueprint for cooperation.
Currently, Turkey and China face an increasingly urgent need for cooperation in science and technology. Turkmenistan is gradually transforming its economy, society, urban development, and industrial development towards innovation. Therefore, we are willing to engage in scientific and technological cooperation with China on the basis of mutual benefit, win-win results, and long-term stability. I am pleased that this proposal has received a positive response from the Chinese government, relevant professional institutions, and enterprises.
People-to-people cooperation is an important area of great potential in Turkey-China relations. For two countries and peoples bound by friendship, brotherhood, mutual respect, and trust, cooperation in this area is a natural progression.
Currently, the core goal of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries is to meet the need for mutual understanding and enhance understanding of each other’s history and culture. I am sincerely pleased by the growing atmosphere of people-to-people exchanges among young people in both countries. Turkmenistan’s young people studying in China are not only absorbing China’s profound and extensive culture, but are also serving as ambassadors of Turkmenistan’s culture throughout China.
This process is of extraordinary significance. Indeed, through the joint efforts of Turkmenistan and China, both sides are gradually building a system of mutually compatible values and worldviews, laying a solid foundation for both sides to develop a healthy and positive self-perception and international perspective—a framework in which both countries are destined to play an important and constructive role. Although our two countries and peoples each have their own unique characteristics and development paths, we have always worked hand in hand, sharing a clear consensus on future goals and prospects.
Today, Turkmenistan and China are steadfast friends and reliable partners, and like-minded allies in promoting their own development and addressing the major challenges facing humanity.
I firmly believe that through our joint efforts, we will achieve all our set goals.
(The author is the President of Turkmenistan)
