Turkmenistan and China Reaffirm Commitment to Centuries-Old Traditions of Friendship and Mutual Trust

Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: The millennia-old history of contacts and communication between the ancestors of the Turkmen and the Chinese was reaffirmed as one of the strongest foundations of modern Turkmenistan–China relations during the recent working visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the People’s Republic of China.

Both Turkmenistan and China consistently emphasize their adherence to historical roots and their shared cultural, material, and spiritual heritage, which not only underpin domestic policies but also shape the nature of bilateral and international cooperation. This enduring legacy is particularly reflected in the present-day character and content of Turkmen–Chinese relations.

Officials noted that the current level of mutual understanding between the two countries is built on a thousand-year foundation of good neighborliness, friendship, and respectful communication. Historical records show that the unified Chinese empire maintained close ties with the ancient ancestors of the Turkmen, including the Oghuz, Huns, Massagets, Parthians, Geok-Turks, and other peoples.

Throughout history, the two civilizations engaged in dynastic marriages, alliance treaties, trade, and cultural exchanges. Oghuz ambassadors were received at Chinese imperial courts, and a Chinese–Turkic dictionary was compiled, although it has not survived. In the 8th century, more than 10,000 Oghuz families moved to China, where Turkic culture—music, clothing, and other traditions—became fashionable. Among the most notable exchanges was the gifting of the famed Akhal-Teke horses, known in China as “heavenly horses.”

Such centuries-long interaction laid the groundwork for the synthesis of political cultures and continues to influence Turkmen–Chinese interstate, economic, and humanitarian cooperation today.

In this context, President Berdimuhamedov stressed that Turkmenistan and China are not only strategic partners and close friends but also like-minded nations whose relations cannot be understood apart from the deep historical context shaped over centuries of unique interaction.