Ashgabat Hosted Turkmen-Chinese Talks
President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping arrived in Turkmenistan on September 3 to hold talks with Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. The two leaders noted opportunities for enhancing partnership in trade and the economy, the energy sector, industry and other sectors. During the meeting, the two heads of states considered the project of a new line of the Turkmenistan – China pipeline. At the end of the meeting, the parties signed 13 documents: an agreement on funding the development of the Galkynysh gas field between Turkmenistan State Concern Turkmengas and China’s State Bank of Development; a sales and purchase agreement for 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year between Turkmengas and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC); a contract between Turkmengaz and the CNPC for the design and construction of commercial grade gas facility with the capacity of producing 30 billion cubic meters a year on the Galkynysh gas field; and a number of other agreements on cooperation in the areas of sports, education, environmental protection, and the economy. The two leaders also signed a Joint Declaration on Establishing a Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and China, stressing that regardless of any geopolitical changes in the world, development of mutual relations will remain the priority of Turkmenistan’s and China’s foreign policies. Xi Jinping invited Berdymukhamedov to China.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
China Asserts Clout in Central Asia with Huge Turkmen Gas Project
(Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping helped inaugurate the world's second-largest gas field in Turkmenistan on Wednesday, showing Beijing's growing clout in Central Asia as it seeks resources for the Chinese economy. The start of production from the Galkynysh field was also a major development for Turkmenistan, the world's fourth-largest holder of gas reserves, which seeks new export routes for the fuel to minimize its dependence on pipelines to Russia. Xi and Berdymukhamedov simultaneously pressed two symbolic start buttons - two globes the size of basketballs decorated with national flags - to ignite flares at a gas processing plant that towered over the surrounding landscape of sun-baked desert and sand dunes.
Source: reuters.com
Ashgabat Hosted Turkmen-Japanese Business Forum
Ashgabat hosted a Turkmen-Japanese business forum to discuss cooperation in trade, economy, and investment. Japan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Tikahito Harada, headed Japan’s delegation, which included representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Trade and Industry; such companies as Itochu, Marubeni, Sojitz, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries; as well as diplomats and journalists from Japan’s media. Berdymukhamedov also held a personal meeting with the Japanese Ambassador.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
President of Turkmenistan Receives High-level Delegation of Iran
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov received Speaker of the Majlis (Parliament) of the Islamic Shura (Council) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Ardashir Larijani, and Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh. The Turkmen leader and his guests exchanged views on the status and prospects of Turkmen-Iranian partnership, stressing that interaction in the energy sector serves as a model in strengthening comprehensive inter-state dialogue.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Turkmenistan Drops by 27 Positions in World Happiness Report
Leading UN experts in psychology, economics, statistics, and other areas have prepared the second
World Happiness Report based on such indicators as GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom of choice, social support, level of corruption, and other factors. The team drew upon Gallup World Poll data from the past three years to rank the 156 countries from 2010 till 2012. The happiest people live in Denmark, followed by Norway and Switzerland. The most unhappy societies are in Central Africa. The US occupied the 17th position, Russia – the 68th, Turkmenistan – the 59th. It should be noted that in the first World Happiness Report published by the UN in 2012 Turkmenistan occupied the 32nd position and was acknowledged as the happiest state of the former Soviet Union.
Source: gundogar.org, huffingtonpost.com
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