Turkmenistan calls on China to participate in energy development.

Sept. 3, 1998 Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, during his recent stay in China, called on businessmen in China's special economic zone of to participate in the development of Turkmen oil and gas deposits.
The Turkmen president also made a trip to Hong Kong.

China and Turkmenia signed an agreement to prevent separatism.
A Chinese-Turkmen declaration says the 2 states will oppose bids to fuel inter-state and ethnic confrontation and will not allow any organisations or forces in their territories to carry out activities aimed against the other side.
Turkmenistan promised "not to maintain any official relations and not to enter any official contacts" with Taipei.
The agreement, signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Niyazov, states the 2 countries strive to consolidate co-operation in trade, economy, science and technology, transport and preventing international crime and drug trafficking.
Beijing and Ashkhabad plan to focus on co-operation in the energy field.
Turkmenistan and China have been discussing for a few years a project of a 6,700 km gas pipeline worth an estimated $ 12 bn.
The project, which is at its initial phase, is considered for bidding by Mitsubishi and Exxon.