Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said for the upcoming Neutrality Day that Russia was more important for his country than China. The president’s speech reflected the foreign policy concept of Turkmenistan for 2013-2017, RIA Novosti reports.
Berdimuhamedov calls Central Asian states the main strategic partners of Turkmenistan. He reminded about efficient trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation with Saint-Petersburg, Tatarstan and Astrakhan Region.
Turkmenistan plans to open a consulate in Astrakhan and a trading office in Moscow.
Commenting on ties with China, the president noted construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline to supply China with Turkmen gas. Other essential countries for Turkmenistan are Japan, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, US, EU, Arab states.
