China-Turkmenistan relations

This will be the younger Berdimuhamedov’s first visit to China as president of Turkmenistan. 

The visits by all five Central Asian presidents to China for the opening of the Beijing Games illustrate the importance of the relationship for both sides.

The economic slowdown in China, a result of the coronavirus pandemic, has affected the gas trade. 

Kazakhstan looks to increase its natural gas exports to China, and Turkmenistan may be gaining an old customer back.

Turkmen gas exports to China fell from October to November, with sources indicating Ashgabat isn't pumping promised volumes.

Reports of a late resolution of a dispute with a Chinese supplier show further problems in Turkmenistan's gas industry.

The introduction of two new parties to the ballot signals the regime's unease, not a democratic awakening.

Central Asia's energy resources are increasingly flowing not to Russia, but to China and emerging Asian economies.

Ashgabat aims to quadruple its gas exports to 180bcm annually by 2030.