On April 16, 2026, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag met with Ding Xuexiang, 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, who arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit at the instruction of President Xi Jinping.

Warmly welcoming the guest, the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted that the current visit of the Chinese delegation to Turkmenistan is an important event demonstrating the high level of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation.

Expressing sincere gratitude to Hero-Arkadag for the warm hospitality, Ding Xuexiang stressed that China attaches great importance to strengthening partnership with Turkmenistan and, taking the opportunity, conveyed warm greetings from President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

As the First Vice Premier of the State Council of China noted, Turkmen-Chinese relations currently serve as an example of effective interstate cooperation. In this regard, he particularly emphasized Hero-Arkadag’s immense contribution to advancing bilateral interaction.

The guest also highlighted the importance of Hero-Arkadag’s recent friendly visit to China.

Conveying his best wishes to President Xi Jinping, Hero-Arkadag underlined that Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the development of friendly ties with China.

As noted during the meeting, the two countries coordinate their efforts on the international stage within major international organizations, primarily the United Nations, as well as in the “Central Asia – China” format. The sides demonstrate common views on key issues of the global agenda.

The dialogue established at the highest state level serves as a solid foundation for close cooperation in the political and diplomatic sphere and creates additional favorable conditions for the development of economic, trade, cultural, and humanitarian ties.

At the same time, Hero-Arkadag emphasized the importance of China’s major global initiatives in the areas of Security, Civilization, Development, and Governance.

During the exchange of views on the current state and prospects of cooperation, it was noted that Turkmen-Chinese relations cover a wide range of areas, including political-diplomatic, trade-economic, fuel-energy, transport and communications, logistics, industrial, technological, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

A vivid example of fuel and energy partnership is the joint gas pipeline project currently being implemented, which ensures the transportation of Turkmen natural gas to China. In accordance with a recently signed document by the President of Turkmenistan, a new phase of development of the Galkynysh Gas Field will begin jointly with China National Petroleum Corporation.

In this regard, Ding Xuexiang expressed gratitude for the favorable investment conditions created for Chinese companies to operate effectively in Turkmenistan.

Within the framework of aligning Turkmenistan’s strategy for reviving the Great Silk Road with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, new horizons are opening for partnership in the transport and logistics sphere. Trade and economic cooperation is also developing steadily. Interaction is actively expanding in the textile industry, agriculture, and high technologies.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag and Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and First Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, expressed confidence that Turkmen-Chinese relations would continue to develop across a broad range of areas and exchanged their best wishes.