2011-03-01 17:46

BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and his Turkmenian counterpart Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov on Tuesday pledged to further all-round cooperation, especially in energy sector.

They inked an inter-governmental agreement on Chinese loan to the Turkmenian gas giant, Turkmengazi State Concern, after their meeting in Beijing.

The details of the agreement were not available at the signing ceremony but China has been a major buyer of the Central Asian state's gas and oil.

"China regards Turkmenistan a sincere friend and reliable partner," Wang said, highlighting sound political ties and fruitful cooperation in such sectors as trade, energy and finance.

He urged the two sides to further gas cooperation, expand cooperation in transportation, telecommunication and infrastructure construction fields.

Hojamuhammedov, visiting China as special envoy of Turkmenian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, agreed with Wang's remarks, noting his country attaches great importance to the friendly cooperation with China and will bolster such cooperation with the Chinese side.

Wang and Hojamuhammedov are co-chairmen of a China-Turkmenistan cooperation committee.