President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Vice President of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Li Xinhua.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity of a personal meeting the guest congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the 17th anniversary of independence and addressed the wishes of peace, happiness and wellbeing to the Turkmen people.

The guest said that China viewed Turkmenistan as a strategic and dependable partner that it was vividly evidenced by construction of the transnational gas pipeline that would supply 40 billion cubic metres each year from the right bank of the Amu Darya River to the People’s Republic of China. The CNPC Vice President informed that the project works were on schedule and construction of the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to the People’s Republic of China would be completed by the end of 2009.

The sides noted that this large-scale project would extend considerably the potential of bilateral co-operation and enhance Turkmenistan’s reputation as the world’s energy producer for its endeavours to diversify export of its hydrocarbon resources to the world market.

The CNPC Vice President said that an additional guarantee of Turkmenistan’s competence as a dependable fuel exporter were the impressive results of the international audit which had proved the availability of huge gas reserves in the southeast of the country. Congratulating the Turkmen leader on this remarkable event the guest wished successful development of these deposits.