Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan. People’s Daily Newspaper
Dear Chinese friends!
I am deeply grateful to the leadership of the People’s Daily for their initiative to publish this article ahead of the Turkmenistan delegation’s visit to the People’s Republic of China. I welcomed this opportunity with enthusiasm, as it allows me to address the vast readership of this esteemed and authoritative publication. I am confident that this direct engagement will foster a deeper understanding of the essence of Turkmenistan-China relations and provide insight into the current and future collaborative efforts of our two nations, undertaken for the benefit of our peoples and in alignment with their fundamental interests.
For more than 30 years, Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China have been developing their relations as independent states. During this, in general, short period of time by historical standards, a great creative path has been passed. Close political, trade, economic and humanitarian ties have been established. Contacts between the leadership of the two countries have been established on a regular basis. A solid legal framework for cooperation has been established.
In September 2013, a historic event took place that predetermined the essence and direction of our relations for the long term – the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relations between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China was signed in Ashgabat. Also in May 2014, a Joint Declaration on the development and deepening of Strategic Partnership relations between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China and a Statement on the adoption of a Plan for the Development of Strategic Partnership Relations between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China for 2014-2018 were adopted.
The remarkable progress in contemporary Turkmen-Chinese relations cannot be viewed in isolation from the profound, centuries-old shared heritage that unites our peoples. This historical bond forms the bedrock of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and China today.
Historical records, chronicles, and literary works provide compelling evidence of enduring political, trade, commercial, and cultural ties between the Turkmen and Chinese, dating back over a millennium.
These interactions fostered a deep mutual understanding and shaped a distinctive relationship between our peoples. This process, marked by positive and creative exchanges, spanned numerous domains and significantly influenced Asia’s civilizational development. It not only enriched the Turkmen and Chinese but also contributed to the prosperity and mutual spiritual and material advancement of neighboring and distant nations across the continent.
The Great Silk Road became a key factor in this historical trajectory, which our two peoples participated in. And I am convinced that there is deep logic, truth and fidelity when today we talk about ourselves as heirs and continuators of this historical fact. Naturally, describing the Chinese concept of “One Belt, One Road” and the Turkmen initiative “Revival of the Great Silk Road”, we emphasize the proximity, philosophical and practical identity of these two significant large-scale projects.
In the political sphere, interstate cooperation between Turkmenistan and China today is characterized by mutual trust, openness and a high level of constructivism. Meetings and negotiations between the leaders of the two states are always a meaningful and responsible strategic dialogue covering the most important areas of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international political arena.
The approaches and views of Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China are close or coincide on fundamental issues of the global world order. Both nations steadfastly advocate for a robust, stable, and secure international architecture grounded in equality, mutual respect, fairness, predictability, and recognition of multilateral interests. The UN Charter and the framework of international law serve as the cornerstone of this vision. Turkmenistan and China work tirelessly within multilateral platforms to advance this goal, fostering a tradition of mutual support that reflects a thoughtful and forward-looking diplomatic approach. This strategy is rooted in a clear-eyed assessment of global events and long-term processes. A notable example is China’s unwavering support for Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality. China’s authoritative and influential stance played a pivotal role in securing international recognition of Turkmenistan’s neutrality through the adoption of the initial and subsequent UN General Assembly resolutions. Today, Turkmenistan’s neutrality serves as a vital positive force in international and regional politics, objectively contributing to China’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and good-neighborly relations across Asia and the world.
In turn, our country always speaks honestly, openly and in principle on topics relevant to China, including those related to the unity of the People’s Republic of China, its territorial integrity, countering terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
Turkmenistan and China are united in the global political arena by their conviction of the need to enhance the role of developing countries and ensure their rightful place on the international agenda of issues such as energy and food security, the fight against epidemics and diseases, and human rights, including fundamental rights such as the right to life and security, and health. In this regard, it would be appropriate to recall the solidarity and mutual assistance shown by Turkmenistan and China during the most difficult period of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We will always be grateful to China for its support in supplying medicines and equipment to Turkmenistan. “True friendship manifests itself in difficult times” – this ancient Chinese truth is fully applicable to relations between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China. Our friendship has withstood difficult trials with honor.
Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China continues to deepen and expand each year, particularly in regional frameworks. The Central Asia–China format has fostered productive dialogue, enabling consistent and meaningful engagement. Turkmenistan actively participates in summits of major multilateral organizations involving China, with a notable example being the high-level participation of the Turkmen delegation as an honored guest at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.
Speaking of this, I would like to pay special attention to the prospects of the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and China in the economy, primarily in the energy and transport sectors.
I am convinced that our opportunities here are enormous. Their involvement is already yielding impressive results, and has a serious and positive impact on the continental geo-economic realities.
We rightfully name the Turkmenistan–China strategic gas pipeline, which was commissioned in 2009, as one of the largest joint achievements in the energy sector. This unique engineering structure is the result of the political will and determination of the leadership of the two countries, reflecting mutual opportunities and potential. In fact, the pipeline has become not just a means of delivering significant volumes of Turkmen natural gas to China, but also a model of a fair, mutually beneficial and sustainable configuration of the energy security system on the continent. We can be proud of the work done, the fruits of which have given a powerful impetus to the development of the economies of Turkmenistan and China, as well as transit states, and the entire system of relations in the energy space in Eurasia. Cooperation between Turkmenistan and China in this area will continue and develop. It has proven its economic validity and compliance with long-term, mutual and multilateral interests.
The Turkmen-Chinese transport partnership is becoming increasingly relevant. As mentioned above, our views on the essence and objectives of transport strategies are similar and compatible. This is a good precondition for joining geographical advantages, financial, organizational, political and diplomatic resources to create an integrated and combined complex of East-West transport and logistics corridors, which is the most promising and fruitful way of economic rapprochement between Asia and Europe based on sustainable principles of mutual benefit and equal partnership. Turkmenistan and China are objectively destined to play a key role in this endeavor, and we are grateful to our Chinese partners for their willingness to cooperate. I am confident that this promising transcontinental project will be successfully implemented and will become another powerful bond of our strategic partnership in the 21st century.
I will return to the historical parallels and the centuries-old experience of mutual communication, including in the economic and trade spheres between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples.
This baggage remains highly relevant today. This rich historical experience should be actively leveraged to enhance contemporary business collaboration. I am confident that the business communities of Turkmenistan and China have much to offer each other. Revitalizing and diversifying trade relations, alongside initiating joint projects in small and medium-sized enterprises, can significantly advance key sectors of our economies. Such efforts promise tangible commercial benefits, improved living standards, and solutions to social challenges for our peoples. Our bilateral economic dialogue places strong emphasis on the investment sector, with a shared commitment to advancing concrete joint projects. Supported by robust governmental backing, this process provides a solid foundation for optimism and ambitious plans for future cooperation.
The technological dimension of Turkmenistan-China cooperation is increasingly vital today. In Turkmenistan, we are progressively transitioning our economy, social sector, urban development, and manufacturing industries to innovative frameworks. We extend an invitation to our Chinese partners to engage in this transformative process on a mutually beneficial and long-term basis. This proposal has been met with enthusiasm from Chinese leadership, specialized institutions, and companies.
A huge, truly limitless layer of cooperation is the humanitarian sphere. This is natural for two countries and peoples united by feelings of friendship, brotherhood, mutual respect and trust.
The humanitarian ties between Turkmenistan and China are driven by a mutual desire to explore and appreciate each other’s rich history and culture. I am delighted to witness this growing interest, particularly among the youth of both nations. Turkmen students studying in the People’s Republic of China immerse themselves in China’s profound cultural heritage while serving as ambassadors of Turkmen culture on Chinese soil.
This is a crucial process. In fact, thanks to the efforts of the two countries, a system of convergence of values and worldviews of Turkmenistan and China as societies and states is being formed today, a solid value framework is being created for a healthy, positive view of oneself and the world around them, in which Turkmenistan and China are destined to perform an important creative function. For all their originality and uniqueness, our countries and peoples are moving together, clearly seeing goals and prospects ahead of them.
Today, Turkmenistan and China are loyal friends, reliable partners, and like–minded people in solving the most important issues of the development of their countries and the whole of humanity.
I am firmly convinced that together we will achieve the fulfillment of all the tasks set. ///(unofficial translation), originally published in Russian by TDH, on 31 August 2025