Turkmenistan upholds friendly ties with China: president

Newly sworn-in Turkmen President Gurbungali Berdymukhamedov said Wednesday that he will continue to maintain friendly relations with China.

Meeting with Ismail Amat, the envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Berdymukhamedov said Turkmenistan is willing to implement all the bilateral agreements with China and support China on a string of major issues, such as those relating to Taiwan and Tibet.

Ismail Amat, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, congratulated Berdymukhamedov on his taking office.

Bilateral relations have grown steadily and healthily since the two counties established diplomatic ties 15 years ago, he said.

Their growing cooperation in various areas and close coordination in international and regional affairs serve the interests of both countries, he added.

Ismail Amat said China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to implement all the existing agreements so as to boost bilateral ties.

Berdymukhamedov was sworn-in earlier in the day as president of the Central Asian nation, immediately after his overwhelming victory in Sunday's election. Leaders from nearly 30 countries attended his inauguration ceremony.

In his inaugural speech, Berdymukhamedov pledged to continue late President Saparmurat Niyazov's policies and maintain the country's neutrality. Niyazov died of heart failure on Dec. 21 last year.

Source: Xinhua