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)
