Turkmenistan prides itself on its friendship with China, and wishes to expand bilateral ties, Turkmen President Gurbungaly Berdymukhamedov said on Thursday.

Berdymukhamedov, freshly inaugurated on Wednesday as his country's new president following his victory in Sunday's election, said in an interview with Chinese reporters that Turkmenistan "will steadfastly adhere to the policy of permanent neutrality," established by late President Saparmurat Niyazov.

That policy serves as Turkmenistan's basis for international relations, he said, adding that "developing friendly ties with China has a special status in Turkmenistan's foreign policy."

Turkmenistan and China share common ground on major international issues such as peace and security and enjoy active cooperation on the international stage, he said.

The two countries have deepened ties in numerous fields including politics, economy, trade, energy and transport, he said. The two countries' leaders have maintained the momentum of high-level exchanges and signed a range of intergovernmental agreements, creating a new legal foundation for bilateral cooperation, he said.

Berdymukhamedov saw Niyazov's visit to China in 2006 as having elevated bilateral ties to a new level. Turkmenistan benefits from its vast natural gas and oil wealth and will attempt to diversify its export routes, he said, adding that cooperation with China to this end offers "broad prospects."

He pledged to pursue bilateral relations for the good of both peoples and hoped that major Chinese companies would enter the Turkmen market, improving in agriculture, textile industry, science, culture, education and health care.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)