President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping as part of his visit to Beijing last Saturday, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

 During the meeting, the oil and gas sector was identified as a priority area and the main component of bilateral cooperation.  An example of successful cooperation in this area is the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, through which, since the end of 2009, supplies of Turkmen «blue fuel» to China have been provided.

 At the same time, it was noted that here the mutual potential has not yet been fully disclosed, and it is necessary to jointly work out new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation.

 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed the readiness of Turkmenistan for a substantive discussion of the issues of increasing the volume of natural gas supplies to China through the construction of the 4th pipeline line, focusing on a number of aspects related to the implementation of this project.

 Speaking about this, the President of Turkmenistan noted the need to determine the volumes of Turkmen «blue fuel» planned for delivery to China.  In this regard, it was proposed to analyze the possibilities of developing the second phase of the Turkmen gas field «Galkynysh», which can become the main resource base for the supply of natural gas to China through the fourth line (D).

 One of the main issues that need to be addressed is the creation in the territory of Turkmenistan of a production and gas transportation infrastructure that ensures the supply of Turkmen natural gas to China through the 4th line, the Turkmen leader noted.

 In this regard, the President announced the need for specialists from the two countries to hold talks on the construction of gas desulphurization plants, compressor stations, and a gas pipeline from the Galkynysh field to the border of Turkmenistan with a neighboring state.

 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also said that in the process of future cooperation on the construction of the fourth line of the gas pipeline, it is necessary to start discussing gas prices.

 “We expect that in joint work on these issues, Turkmen and Chinese specialists will proceed from world experience in the field of pricing for commercial pipeline gas,” the President of Turkmenistan noted.

 Upon reaching bilateral agreements, the Turkmen side may consider the participation of a Chinese company in the development of the second phase of the Galkynysh field through direct investment from China, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, adding that the return of these investments will be carried out by supplies of Turkmen natural gas.

 During the negotiations, the parties reached an agreement on the project for the construction of the 4th branch of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, instructing the Turkmen-Chinese and Chinese-Turkmen cooperation committees to carry out appropriate work in this direction.

 On February 4, the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, at the invitation of the President of China, took part in the opening of the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.