The visit by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to the People’s Republic of China was granted the status of a “friendly visit.” This designation fully reflects the nature and direction of bilateral relations, their continuity and consistency, as confirmed by key treaty based and legal instruments.
China was among the first countries to recognize Turkmenistan’s independence and the first country to establish diplomatic relations with it on 6 January 1992. The “Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relations between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China” was signed on 3 September 2013. Finally, in January 2023, Turkmenistan and China announced the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership, following the signing of the “Joint Statement between Turkmenistan and the People’s Republic of China” on the outcomes of the state visit by the President of Turkmenistan to the PRC. These documents signify the elevation of Turkmen Chinese relations to the highest level of interstate cooperation.
Turkmenistan and the PRC maintain productive cooperation at the foreign policy level. The mechanisms for bilateral diplomatic contacts and consultations have been established. The two countries maintain a practice of mutual support through major international organizations – first and foremost the United Nations, reflecting shared understanding and a constructive approach to key issues on the global and regional agenda. Ashgabat highly values China’s consistent support for Turkmenistan’s neutrality and its international initiatives. In turn, Turkmenistan clearly and unequivocally articulates its positions on issues of importance to its Chinese partners, including those concerning China’s territorial integrity and unity. Ashgabat firmly adheres to the One China policy and reaffirms its recognition of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China.
During his meeting with President of the PRC Xi Jinping, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov placed particular emphasis on the historical trajectory of Turkmen Chinese relations. He specifically referred to the “Oath Treaty” dated 49 BC, which the ancestors of modern Turkmens – the Huns – signed with the ruler of China. The document states: “May our sons and grandsons remain faithful to this treaty from generation to generation.” As Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted in conversation with the Chinese leader, both sides are now reviving the spirit and significance of this fateful political testament.
In general, from a historical perspective, the Chinese factor has always played a significant and positive role in relations between the Turkmen people and Turkmen state entities since the early Middle Ages. This is particularly evident in the development and expansion of trade economic, political and humanitarian contacts between the two peoples along the routes of the Great Silk Road. These traditions and experiences are carried forward into the fabric of modern bilateral and regional cooperation, where the Chinese factor once again assumes crucial importance in ensuring economic dynamism as well as preserving and strengthening security. The interests of Turkmenistan and China in this context are close or coincide, and both countries effectively utilize their objective advantages – mutual trust, understanding, and resource, technological and industrial potential.
For many years, China has remained Turkmenistan’s largest trade and economic partner. From 2007 to 2022, bilateral trade turnover increased twenty fold. Importantly, it has maintained stability at an annual level of USD 9–10 billion.
The partnership covers key areas including energy, transport, communications, high technologies, textiles, the agro industrial sector and others. Unique experience of mutually beneficial cooperation has been accumulated in the gas and oil industries. There is also promising groundwork in the field of renewable energy, taking into account China’s experience and potential.
In partnership with China, Turkmenistan’s transport sector is developing at a rapid pace. A telling fact is that today approximately 90 percent of Turkmenistan’s railway passenger fleet consists of rolling stock and locomotives of Chinese manufacture.
Both countries have all the prerequisites for pooling their capacities in developing trade communications in the Caspian Sea, with access to the Persian Gulf and terminals in the Indian Ocean.
All of this naturally aligns with the linkage of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” and Turkmenistan’s strategy of the “Revival of the Silk Road.” Under current conditions, the presence of objective mutual interests enables Turkmenistan and China to successfully expand their partnership within the framework of large transport and logistics projects. These projects are designed to provide a powerful impetus for economic development across Eurasia, connecting vast territories from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean on modern principles, forming interconnected production and technological chains and industrial belts, contributing to the resolution of numerous social challenges and improving quality of life and public welfare.
The partnership agenda also features high technologies, telecommunications and space cooperation.
Turkmenistan welcomes and supports China’s efforts in the area of international relations and security. In this regard, Ashgabat highlights the importance and effectiveness of the four global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping in recent years: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative.
These initiatives correspond to the goals and philosophy of Turkmenistan’s own global initiatives, such as Peace through Development; and Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, as well as Turkmenistan’s policy of promoting principles of trust and respectful, equal dialogue in world politics.
The fuel and energy sector is a strategic pillar of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the PRC, which is entirely natural given the vast complementary potential of both countries. On 14 December 2009, the Turkmenistan–China gas pipeline was commissioned. Since that date, in accordance with agreements, Turkmenistan has been supplying China with approximately 40 billion cubic meters of gas annually. As of 1 March 2026, nearly 460 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been exported to China via this pipeline. Work is currently underway to increase annual supplies to 65 billion cubic meters.
The humanitarian dimension remains a traditional theme in the Turkmen Chinese dialogue. For many years, Turkmen students have been studying at universities in China in the most in demand specialties.
The Chinese leader expressed interest in implementing joint programs in science, education and other social spheres, voicing confidence that in the near future projects will be implemented in Turkmenistan to establish “Luban Workshops” and a Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Finally, when characterizing the current level of bilateral relations, it is impossible to overlook the many years of personal trust based and warm relations, mutual respect and openness between Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Xi Jinping. This factor has a direct impact on current and future cooperation plans, as well as on the shared vision of regional, continental and global trends and processes in which Turkmenistan and China play an increasingly significant role. In this context, the response of the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan to a question from CGTN regarding Xi Jinping’s leadership is indicative: “I believe that Xi Jinping, as a leader, plays a decisive role in the development of the great Chinese state, which serves as an important foundation for global security and sustainable development.”