On July 27, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with his Turkmenistan counterpart Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai. Hojamuhammedov is in Beijing for the second meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee.

Li said this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Turkmenistan. Over the past two decades, bilateral ties have maintained a sound growth momentum and cooperation in various fields has reached one new level after another. China has become Turkmenistan's largest trade partner, a market for Turkmen natural gas and its important source of investment. China is willing to make joint efforts with Turkmenistan to push forward bilateral relations in the spirit of mutual trust, equality and win-win cooperation.

Li said China's cooperation with central Asian countries will be boosted in coming years as part of the country's efforts to speed up the development of its western areas. The two economies are highly complementary and present opportunities for each other's development. He hoped both sides will create conditions, innovate ways, actively promote long-term strategic cooperation in energy and create new highlights in cooperation in the transportation, communications, medical care and sanitation, high-tech, infrastructure and other non-resource sectors. He also urged both sides to promote multi-level and wide-ranging humanities exchanges, enrich the pattern of cooperation and consolidate the foundation of friendship for the benefit of the two peoples.

Hojamuhammedov said Turkmenistan-China cooperation has made great achievements and enjoys broad development prospects. Turkmenistan attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to strengthen all-round cooperation with China so as to give new impetus to the development of bilateral relations.