On April 16, 2026, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, received Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, First Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang, who is visiting Turkmenistan on the instructions of the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

Expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to the Chinese delegation, Ding Xuexiang emphasized that China attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Turkmenistan and, taking the opportunity, conveyed cordial greetings from President Xi Jinping to the Head of Turkmenistan.

Thanking for the visit of the high-level Chinese delegation, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow conveyed his best regards in return to President Xi Jinping. It was noted that for many years, the Turkmen-Chinese dialogue has been built on the principles of trust, mutual respect, and consideration of national interests.

A significant role in bilateral relations is played by the Turkmen-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation and its subcommittees. In this context, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow wished success in holding the next meeting of the Committee with the participation of the First Vice Premier of the State Council of China.

As emphasized during the meeting, interstate relations cover a wide range of areas, including the economy, culture, science, and education. The fuel and energy sector remains a key vector of bilateral cooperation. A clear indication of its strategic importance is that this year Turkmenistan and China celebrate the 20th anniversary of their gas cooperation.

The sides also noted the successful cooperation between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China within the framework of the United Nations. In this regard, it was also highlighted that the “Central Asia–China” format and the Belt and Road Initiative serve as platforms for closer and multifaceted regional cooperation.

The interlocutors also underlined the considerable potential for implementing joint projects aimed at preserving shared historical heritage and reaffirmed their commitment to the comprehensive development of cultural ties.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and Ding Xuexiang exchanged best wishes and expressed confidence in the steady strengthening of the Turkmen-Chinese strategic partnership across a wide range of areas in the interests of universal prosperity.