Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Thursday that China is willing to, based on the principle of mutual benefit, continuously expand the space for cooperation with Turkmenistan and work together for development and prosperity.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat.

China-Turkmenistan relations are rooted in a history of friendly exchanges spanning over 2,000 years, and mutual support is the core essence of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Ding said.

Ding added that China will always support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as in pursuing a policy of permanent neutrality, and will remain a trustworthy partner for Turkmenistan.

China also hopes that Turkmenistan will continue to provide firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, he added.

He said that the "Two Sessions" of China reviewed and approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, bringing more opportunities to countries around the world, including Turkmenistan.

Ding said the two sides should deepen natural gas cooperation and create new highlights of practical cooperation in areas such as connectivity, trade and investment, and scientific and technological innovation, so as to deliver tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan highly values its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, sincerely admires China's development achievements, and is ready to work with China to actively implement the consensus reached by both sides.

He said that Turkmenistan will continue to prioritize natural gas cooperation, strengthen practical cooperation in infrastructure, high technology, agriculture, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, security and other fields, and elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan will firmly support China in hosting the third China-Central Asia Summit next year.

On the same day, Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. Ding said China is willing to work together with Turkmenistan to fully leverage the role of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee and promote high-quality development of their all-round cooperation.

Ding and Meredov also co-chaired the seventh meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee.

Ding said that both China and Turkmenistan have made fresh advances in natural gas cooperation, maintained steady economic and trade cooperation, strengthened connectivity, deepened people-to-people exchanges, and achieved notable progress across various fields.

China will work with Turkmenistan to strengthen high-level political guidance, enhance coordination and planning, and translate the important consensus of their leaders into concrete results, Ding said. He urged the two sides to accelerate the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan's Revival of the Great Silk Road strategy, expand natural gas cooperation, optimize bilateral trade structures, and foster new drivers of cooperation growth.

The two sides should also strengthen mutual support, properly address risks and challenges, and work together to better safeguard their security, development, as well as regional peace and stability, Ding added.

For his part, Meredov said Turkmenistan and China have continuously deepened and expanded their comprehensive strategic partnership, bringing bilateral relations to a historic high.

He said that Turkmenistan stands ready to work with China to consolidate traditional friendship, fully implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, take natural gas cooperation as a strategic and flagship priority, expand practical cooperation in artificial intelligence, transportation, modern agriculture, and other fields, and promote the sustained development of bilateral relations.

(With input from Xinhua)