Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met Wednesday with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation on the economy, energy and other areas.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Ashgabat of Turkmenistan, on June 24, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]

Conveying greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to President Berdymukhamedov, Li arrived in the Central Asian country late Tuesday for a three-day official visit.

He said the friendly ties between China and Turkmenistan have enjoyed swift development in recent years.

The two countries have often exchanged high-level visits, which has helped to deepen mutual understanding and political trust, and improve the development of fruitful cooperation in various fields, Li said.

China regards Turkmanistan as a sincere friend and trustworthy partner, Li said, and is willing to work together to further enhance mutual political trust, and maintain high-level communications.

China is also willing to work with Turkmanistan to perfect their bilateral ties, fully implement bilateral agreements, and expand cooperation on regional and international issues, Li said.

Concerning energy and trade, Li said that the two countries' economies are highly complementary and have a solid cooperative foundation. The two countries have great potential for earnest cooperation and a promising future, Li said.

Concerning the ongoing world economic crisis, Li said that even stronger cooperation between China and Turkermanistan will be conducive to maintaining the stable, swift development of both economies.

China and Turkmanistan should also strengthen their combined efforts in the energy sector, implement their agreed loan projects, expand financial cooperation and strengthen their coalition in the fields of construction materials and chemical fertilizers, Li said.

The China-Turkmanistan natural gas pipeline, Li said, is a mutually beneficial project that has great significance in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries and the region as well.

Li praised Turkmansnistan's support for China on Taiwan-related and Tibet issues and the fight against the separatist movement of East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

He noted that China will continue to support Turkmanistan in its efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, promote its economic development and raise its international status while being a "permanently neutral" country.

China is ready to strengthen security cooperation with Turkmanistan, Li said. He added that he hoped that the two countries' police and security departments will swiftly start communications and cooperation, and crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, such as the ETIM, so as to jointly maintain the peace and stability of the two countries and the region.

For his part, Berdymukhamedov expressed gratitude for the greetings from the Chinese leaders, and said that the two peoples have always enjoyed brotherly friendship.

He also said the two countries have always respected and understood each other and looked after each other's interests.

China anad Turkmanistan together have made remarkable advances in trade and commerce in recent years, he said, and cooperation in the energy sector, including the construction of natural gas pipelines, has become a model of China-Turkmanistan partnership.

Berdymukhamedov said that he hoped to avail the opportunity of Li's visit to comprehensively strengthen cooperation with China and propel their bilateral ties to even higher levels.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony for seven projects in the fields of energy, trade and finance.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) meets with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (2nd L) in Ashgabat of Turkmenistan, on June 24, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2009)