China is aiming to enhance its energy cooperation with Turkmenistan, as part of broader efforts to expand trade and investment ties between the two nations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on November 31, according to South China Morning Post.
Wang made the statement following his meeting with Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, who also serves as the country’s Vice-President. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chengdu, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Wang highlighted China's commitment to further boosting trade and investment with Turkmenistan. He expressed China's willingness to support more Chinese enterprises in exploring investment opportunities in Turkmenistan, a country rich in energy resources.
The meeting, which concludes on December 1, was attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. These Central Asian nations are becoming increasingly important for China's energy and economic strategies.
In addition to discussions with Meredov, Wang met with Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev. Their discussions focused on a significant infrastructure project – an $8bn rail project that will connect China’s Xinjiang region to Uzbekistan via southwest Kyrgyzstan.
This rail line, which aims to shorten the freight journey between China and Europe by 900 kilometers (560 miles), promises to provide a faster and cheaper alternative to existing China-Europe land routes that largely pass through Russia. The project, which was first proposed in the 1990s, recently gained momentum after an agreement was reached in June among China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Wang's visit to Chengdu also saw him meet Nepalese Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. The meeting was held in preparation for the upcoming visit of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. Talks between Wang and Deuba focused on strengthening trade, tourism, and connectivity, including a cross-border railway project and a tunnel linking Kathmandu with Chhahare in Nuwakot district.
Wang expressed China's eagerness to work with Nepal in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations next year, stressing the opportunity for further cooperation. Deuba, in turn, reaffirmed Nepal's support for President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative and the shared vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
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