China tightening the noose? Beijing has set a new direction for expansion

Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared in Beijing his will to expand gas cooperation and tighten partnership with Turkmenistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a note from Xi's meeting with the chairman of the country's People's Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Both sides emphasized the need to fight the “three forces of evil.”

“The parties should expand the scale of cooperation in the field of natural gas and raise the level of trade and investment,” said Xi, quoted in a statement from the Ministry of Diplomacy. He noted that mutual political support is “the key essence of the comprehensive strategic partnership” between Beijing and Ashgabat.

The cooperation is also intended to cover new areas, including artificial intelligence, digital economy and clean energy, which is in line with the recently approved 15th Five-Year Plan in China.

Xi assured that regardless of changes in the international situation, China will support its partner's “independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He called for “practicing true multilateralism” and jointly promoting a “just global order.”

Both leaders agreed on the need to decisively fight the “three forces of evil”: terrorism, separatism and extremism, in order to build a security barrier for the development of both nations.

The former president of Turkmenistan expressed support for China's global initiatives. “When China is doing well, the world is doing better,” said Berdimuhamedow, quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China is currently the largest importer of Turkmen gas. Approximately 40 billion cubic meters of gas reaches the PRC annually via the Central Asia-China pipeline. Turkmenistan has the fourth largest gas reserves in the world. This country is the only one in Central Asia that records a huge surplus in trade with China, amounting to approximately USD 8.6 billion, mainly due to gas.

From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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