Turkmenistan’s Ahal Velayat and China’s Shaanxi Province Establish Sister-Region Ties

Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Ahal Velayat Administration of Turkmenistan and China’s Shaanxi Province formalized a sister-region partnership through the signing of a cooperation agreement during the second “Central Asia–China” summit held Tuesday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

According to official Turkmen media, the summit also witnessed the announcement of new cooperation centers within the “Central Asia–China” framework, complemented by video presentations highlighting prospective areas of engagement.

The high-level meeting brought together the heads of state of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Following comprehensive discussions, the leaders signed a Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation and adopted the Astana Declaration of the summit. Additionally, a new initiative aimed at easing mutual travel for citizens of the participating countries was launched, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties.

In his address, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov extended an official invitation to the heads of state to attend an upcoming international forum in Ashgabat this December. The forum will commemorate International Neutrality Day, the Year of Peace and Trust, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutral status.

The “Central Asia–China” format, launched in 2020, serves as a strategic platform for multilateral cooperation between China and Central Asian nations. Since its inception, the leaders have convened twice prior to this summit—virtually in January 2022 and in person in Xi’an, China, in May 2023.