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neutral. (April 2022) |
China |
Turkmenistan |
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ChinaâTurkmenistan relations are the bilateral relationship between China and Turkmenistan. China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan after it declared independence. [1] On January 6, 1992, China signed communiquĂ©s on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan. [2]
China is by far Turkmenistan's largest trading partner. In 2020, the China exports to Turkmenistan were valued at $445 US million and Turkmenistan exports to China were valued at $5.3 US billion. [3] In 2022, China accounted for 65% of Turkmenistan's total trade. [4]
In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Turkmenistan, signed a joint letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council defending China's persecution of Uyghurs. [5] [6] Turkmenistan was one of 16 countries that defended China in 2019 but did not do so in 2020. [7]
Turkmenistan exports significant amounts of natural gas to China, with more than half of these exports going through the Central AsiaâChina gas pipeline. [8] On 3 April 2006, China and Turkmenistan signed a framework agreement on a potential pipeline construction and long-term gas supply. [9] In June 2007, during his visit to China, Turkmeni President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed an accord to speed up implementation of the Turkmeni-Chinese gas pipeline project. [10] In July 2007, it was formally announced that Turkmenistan will join the original KazakhstanâChina oil pipeline project. [11] The whole pipeline was inaugurated on 14 December 2009. [12]
The pipeline project allowed Turkmenistan to significantly decrease its previous dependence on Russia; previously, nearly 70% of Turkmenistan's gas exports transited through Russian pipelines. [13]