The seventh meeting of the Turkmen-Chinese Inter-governmental Committee on Cooperation will take place on 16 April in Ashgabat. Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan, reported on preparations for the meeting at an off-site government session, according to TDH.

Rashid Meredov noted that cooperation with China remains a key priority of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. Recent high-level visits have made a significant contribution to the development of relations. These include President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s working visit to the PRC in August–September 2025 to attend the SCO summit, and the visit of the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to Beijing on 17–19 March 2026.

The meeting is expected to discuss the further development of the strategic partnership. The agenda includes energy, including new projects for the development of gas fields, the modernisation of railway infrastructure and the development of logistics routes between China–Turkmenistan–the Caspian Sea–Europe and Turkmenistan–China–the Asia-Pacific region. Topics such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, agriculture and training in the scientific and educational sectors will also be addressed.

The Committee comprises six subcommittees that meet on a regular basis. Meetings on humanitarian and transport-logistics issues have already taken place this year. Meetings on energy and scientific and technical cooperation are scheduled for the second half of 2026.

Following the meeting, it is planned to sign a protocol and a number of documents aimed at strengthening the legal framework of bilateral relations.

Having heard the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasised the need to ensure a high standard of organisation for the event. He signed a Resolution appointing the heads of the committee and subcommittees on the Turkmen side and instructed the Deputy Prime Minister to continue with the preparations.