Prospects for cooperation in the gas industry were discussed on Monday at a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and member of the board, President of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Hou Qijun, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

 The head of CNPC confirmed the interest of the company and Chinese business circles in general in expanding cooperation with Turkmenistan on a long-term basis.

 Qijun informed the head of state about the progress of work carried out by the company in Turkmenistan, in particular, in the industrial development of hydrocarbon fields in the Bagtyyarlyk contract area and the development of one of the world's largest gas fields – Galkynysh.

 As noted, as a result of this cooperation, Turkmen natural gas is transported to China through the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline.  At the same time, the importance of the agreements reached at the highest level regarding the development of the second stage of the Galkynysh field and the laying of the fourth branch of the Turkmenistan-China transnational gas pipeline was emphasized.

 Qijun expressed gratitude to the head of Turkmenistan for his personal participation in the recent opening of the new Gadyn gas collection station in Lebap region, which took place on June 18.

 During the meeting, the solid potential for the successful expansion of bilateral cooperation in the gas industry was emphasized.

 President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that, having colossal reserves of energy resources, Turkmenistan is consistently implementing a strategy for the comprehensive modernization of the national fuel and energy complex, focused on attracting the best world experience and advanced technologies to the industry.

 The key criteria here are the capacity building of the mining and processing sectors, the formation of a diversified pipeline infrastructure, the creation of innovative industries that produce high-quality competitive products that are in demand on the domestic and foreign markets.  All this provides ample opportunities for productive cooperation with foreign partners.

 The meeting was also attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan Qian Naicheng.