China, Turkmenistan vow to strengthen ties

China and Turkmenistan will strengthen ties and further tap potential for cooperation, their leaders said on Monday.

"To strengthen our practical cooperation is significant for the development of both countries as well as the whole region," Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at a meeting here with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

Zhou, who was on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan, said relations between China and the Central Asian country have witnessed healthy and stable development since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago, which has brought concrete benefits to the people of the two countries.

Berdimuhamedow said Turkmenistan and China have a long history of friendship and there is great potential for further cooperation between the two countries.

Echoing Berdimuhamedow, Zhou said China and Turkmenistan can promote cooperation in energy and non-resource areas.

Turkmenistan has one of the world's largest reserve of natural gas, whose energy exports to China are growing rapidly.

Besides energy, Zhou said the two countries can seek opportunities in infrastructure, communication, health care and high technology.

He also called for more cooperation with Turkmenistan in law enforcement and security.

In addition, the two countries should expand cultural exchange and people-to-people contact, Zhou said.

On the previous day, Zhou met with Chinese entrepreneurs in Turkmenistan and urged them to contribute to the further development of bilateral cooperation.

Turkmenistan is the last leg of Zhou's three-nation Asia tour, which has taken him to Singapore and Afghanistan.