Turkmenistan and China Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Gas Cooperation
15:44 31.03.2026 1907
One of the key topics of the briefing by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan Ji Shumin, held in Ashgabat on March 27, was the results and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, which has remained the foundation of bilateral relations for decades, according to "Turkmenistan: Golden Age”.
This year is significant for Ashgabat and Beijing – it marks 20 years since the start of large-scale gas cooperation. As Ji Shumin noted, during this period, the energy sector has become the main pillar of Chinese-Turkmen cooperation.
These figures confirm Turkmenistan's status as a key energy supplier. As of March 1, 2026, Turkmen natural gas exports to China reached 460 billion cubic meters. China has been Turkmenistan's largest trading partner and the main importer of Turkmen gas for 14 consecutive years.
The diplomat emphasized that this cooperation is mutually beneficial. For China, it guarantees energy security, while for Turkmenistan, it provides stable budget revenues and creates thousands of jobs.
At the same time, the Chinese ambassador noted that the Turkmen side shares this position. The National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has repeatedly noted that a strategic alliance in the gas sector not only meets the interests of the two countries but is also an important factor in the development of the global economy.
The head of the Chinese diplomatic mission further stated that the implementation of the project to develop the fourth stage of the supergiant Galkynysh field will mark a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations.
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) was declared the winner of the corresponding tender. The recent approval by Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of the contract between the Turkmengas State Concern and CNPC was an important step.
"The implementation of this major project will further increase Turkmenistan's gas production capacity, boost state budget revenues, and create new jobs for the people of Turkmenistan. I am confident that the energy dialogue between Ashgabat and Beijing will continue to grow, opening new horizons for economic prosperity for the entire region," the diplomat concluded.
Maxim Bortnikov – Managing Director at the Center for the Implementation of the Principles of Sustainable Development of Gazprombank:
“The theme of the International Conference held in Ashgabat is rather topical, as evidenced by the composition of its participants, including representatives of government agencies, large international organizations, banks, big gas companies, scientists, leading specialists and experts in the oil and gas sphere.
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