Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao comes to Turkmenistan on an official visit on August 28. The current top level talks is another opportunity to harmonize the views and specify the vectors of further mutually advantageous co-operation based on the traditions of centuries-old friendship between the two friendly peoples.

At the turn of XXI century the Turkmen-Chinese relations entered the new stage initiated by the Joint Communiqu? on the establishment of the diplomatic relations of January 6, 1992. By issuing the Communiqu? both Turkmenistan and China confirmed mutual interest in furthering the relations of friendship and co-operation built on the respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit.

A powerful incentive to develop the bilateral dialogue intensified considerably in recent years was offered by the official visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Beijing last July. The meeting of the leaders of the two countries Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hu Jintao who are bound nowadays with the friendly and sincere relations, manifested the partners’ willingness to intensify and enhance in every possible way traditional partnership the history of which traced back to the epoch of the Great Silk Route.

Today Beijing and Ashgabat have devised the most optimum formula of the bilateral relations that enables to combine the similarity of the designated tasks on the basis of the national interests and the specifics of the way chosen by each country. To date the unique multilevel mechanism of collaboration including the meetings at various levels – from top level talks to business contacts has been elaborated between the two countries.

The foundation for further effective co-operation is the solid legal environment. The substantial package of the international documents has been formed for these years – 69 agreements and treaties signed at the interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels. Under the agreements the embassies of both countries were accredited and successfully work in Ashgabat and Beijing, the through air service was established, Turkmen young people study at the institutions of higher education in the People’s Republic of China, the historical and cultural ties are actively developed between the two fraternal nations, the number of the Chinese large companies substantially invest in Turkmen economy and implement the industrial and social projects.

Bilateral co-operation prioritizes development of the trade relations that is proved by the steady increase in trade turnover between the two countries. In 2000-2007 it raised by more than18 times. This tendency is maintained: China ranks the fifth in the total volume of Turkmenistan’s foreign trade. The main export articles are agricultural products. Turkmenistan also exports chemical and textile goods to China. Turkmenistan imports fabricated metal products, equipment and mechanisms, vehicles, electrical goods, household appliances, construction materials, food products, etc.

Social stability and very promising market in Turkmenistan promotes attracting more leading Chinese companies in the country. As of August 1, 2008 30 enterprises with the share of Chinese investments were registered and operate in the territory of Turkmenistan, of them 11 are legal entities. In Turkmenistan the Chinese companies collaborate in 49 investment projects totally amounted to US$ 1.284,900 and 1.478,300 Chinese yuans. Based on intense interest that the Chinese business community shows in expanding on the Turkmen market with the most favoured nation treatment the joint projects are expected to increase in number.

Most of the joint projects are implemented in oil and gas industry. Last year was marked with launching the large-scale project – construction of the gas-main pipeline which will transport Turkmen natural gas from the right bank of the Amu Darya River to China in the near future.

The priority fields of Turkmen-Chinese co-operation include transport, telecommunication, textile and chemical industries. Humanitarian co-operation is successfully maintained, in particular the spheres of science, education and culture.

During the coming bilateral talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Hu Jintaon will discuss the current state and prospects of bilateral co-operation and the issues of international policy of mutual interest. The top level talks are expected to result in signing the documents called upon to bring Turkmen-Chinese partnership with the profound potential and vast opportunities up to a higher level meeting the mutual interests.