Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on a goodwill visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on March 18, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Following a period of intensive high-level engagements with world leaders, especially from Western countries since the start of 2026 and just after the successful conclusion of China's annual national "two sessions", Beijing hosted another distinguished guest - National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

On Wednesday afternoon, President Xi Jinping met with Berdimuhamedov, who is on a goodwill visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, according to a release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi noted that China's annual "two sessions" were successfully concluded not long ago, during which the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development was reviewed and approved. The implementation of this Plan will lay a solid foundation for China to basically achieve socialist modernization, and will also benefit countries around the world, read the release.

Xi noted that over the past 35 years since gaining independence, Turkmenistan has blazed a trail of independent development that suits its national conditions. China will work with Turkmenistan to discuss plans for cooperation and share development opportunities as we enter the Year of the Horse, so as to further deepen and substantiate the China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future, per the release.

Underscoring mutual support is the core of the China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi noted that the two sides should work faster to create greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan's Revival of the Great Silk Road Strategy, expand cooperation in natural gas, enhance the scale of trade and investment, and deepen collaboration in connectivity, agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital economy, clean energy and other non-resource areas. 

Berdimuhamedov expressed his great pleasure at visiting the great country of China, and congratulated China on the successful conclusion of the "two sessions," during which important decisions and plans were made for the country's development. China's prosperity and development benefit the world. When everything is good in China, the world is better, he said, according to the release.  

Turkmenistan will, as always, remain committed to the one-China principle, and is ready to enhance synergy of development strategies with China, expand practical cooperation in such areas as energy, trade and connectivity, jointly pursue development and prosperity, and promote security and stability. 

Turkmenistan appreciates China's support for its status of permanent neutrality, speaks highly of the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping as a world-class leader, and commends China's consistent position of upholding justice in international affairs, Berdimuhamedov said, according to the release.   

This visit takes place at a critical juncture when China's national "two sessions" have just concluded and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan has been approved. It reflects Turkmenistan's high recognition of China's development achievements and its positive expectations for future cooperation, Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

The visit continues the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two countries. Berdimuhamedov's visit at this time highlights Turkmenistan's desire to seize this window of opportunity to further consolidate mutual trust, jointly discuss major development strategies, share opportunities, and advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan to a higher level and higher quality, the expert said. 

The top leaders of the two countries share strong mutual trust and profound friendship, which provides important strategic guidance for the steady growth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, calling on both sides to advance China-Turkmenistan relations steadily along the correct path charted by the two heads of state, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, who is accompanying Berdimuhamedov on his visit to China.

Meredov extended congratulations on the successful convening of China's "two sessions." He expressed Turkmenistan's support for the four global initiatives proposed by China and its willingness to work with the Chinese side to jointly prepare for the third China-Central Asia Summit.



China's outstanding global role 

Chinese experts also noted that the visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took place against the backdrop of complex and turbulent global and regional situations, marked by the ongoing war triggered by the US-Israeli military operation against Iran and the conflicts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan shares borders with both Iran and Afghanistan.  

Turkmenistan's leader choosing to visit China at this moment is in hopes to ensure a more stable and reliable development environment for the country and its surrounding regions by deepening security dialogue and cooperation. This embodies Turkmenistan's strategic orientation, regarding China as its most reliable strategic partner, Zhang Hong said.

Whether it is Western countries or Central Asian countries, they are now engaging in increasingly frequent and intensive exchanges with China, which demonstrates China's growing importance in the current global landscape, particularly as its constructive role is becoming ever more precious and valuable against the backdrop of a turbulent world undergoing profound changes and major shifts, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times.

China's position as a builder of peace, a staunch defender of the international order, and a provider of more public goods and resources stands out prominently at the moment, Zhu noted.