Chen Bingde meets with Turkmen DM, chief of general staff

Chen Bingde, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China and chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), met with Begenc Gundogdiyev, Turkmen defense minister, and held talks with Ismail Ismailov, chief of general staff of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan, on the morning of June 4, 2012. The two sides exchanged views on the relations between the two countries and the two militaries and the issues of common concern.

Gundogdiyev said that the friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries is long-term and strategic in nature, and the bilateral friendship is unbreakable. Under the care and concern of the leaders of the two countries, Turkmenistan-China relations have been increasingly developed on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, the mutual political trust have been constantly enhanced and the pragmatic exchanges and cooperation have been constantly deepened in recent years.

Gundogdiyev also said that the relations between the two militaries are currently developing well and have big room and enormous potential for future development. He believed that Chen Bingde's visit is bound to give fresh impetus to the development of the bilateral military relations.

Ismailov said the two militaries have been seeking cooperation on the principle of mutual benefit and have achieved fruitful results from the cooperation in various fields, and high-ranking officers of the two militaries have been contacting frequently with each other and have made due contributions to the friendly cooperation between the two countries. The Turkmen side is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to further deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two militaries.

Chen Bingde said China and Turkmenistan are traditional friendly neighbors. In recent years, leaders of the two countries have been contacting with each other frequently, the mutual political trust has been increasingly promoted and the pragmatic cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, energy and humanities has been deepened.

Chen Bingde said the relations between the two militaries are an important component of the relations between the two countries. Under the care and concern of the heads of the two countries, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two militaries have developed healthily and smoothly as evidenced by remarkable achievements in various fields.

Chen Bingde said Turkmenistan is an important country in the region. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Turkmen military to jointly safeguard the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples and make positive contributions to Central Asia's security and stability as well as world peace.

Before the talks, Ismailov held a welcome ceremony for Chen Bingde and accompanied Chen Bingde to review the guard of honor of the Turkmen Armed Forces.