China keen to expand presence in Turkmen market
By Nigar Abbasova
Chinese business circles expressed their readiness to expand presence in the promising market of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen government reported.
The issue was discussed by representatives of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Van Ilin and Lui Gunsun and Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The businessmen have confirmed the interest in the strengthening of fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan which is based on the mutually advantageous and long-term basis.
The Turkmen president in his turn said that CNPC is an important partner of Turkmenistan in the sphere of the fuel and energy, mentioning the progressive dynamics of relations with CNPC. The project for construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline is considered to be a striking example of this. The pipeline has ensured the delivery of the Turkmen natural fuel to the PRC since 2009.
“The transnational energy bridge which is considered to become an effective factor of the sustainable geopolitical and economic development in Asia may be referred to as a real contribution to the provision of regional and global power security,” Turkmen state news agency reported.
Turkmenistan enjoys the world's fourth largest natural gas reserves after Russia, Iran, and Qatar It produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The country is one of the key players in the energy market in the resource-rich Caspian region.
Moreover, the country plans to construct the world's largest gas-chemical complex in the Derveze district of Turkmenistan's Akhal province.
Turkmenistan is a major strategic partner of China in natural gas provision. Roughly 35 percent of China’s gas import accounts for the Turkmen gas.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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