Turkmen–Chinese energy cooperation — a model of unbreakable friends
The launch of the fourth phase development of the giant «Galkynyş» gas field, located in Ýolöten etrap of Mary velayat, with the participation of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag, and the First Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang, became one of the significant historical events.
The participation of mass media representatives in this solemn event was of special importance. We, as journalists, are the professionals who are the first to widely convey important events of the era to the public. The speeches of the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Ding Xuexiang on the eve of this historic event most fittingly reflected the scale of the occasion. In their addresses, the purpose of developing the «Galkynyş» gas field—an embodiment of the friendly relations between the two nations—was widely highlighted through the implementation of major and historic tasks.
Indeed, with the launch of the fourth phase development of the «Galkynyş» gas field, its capacity—already one of the largest in the world—will become even more evident. The project, which will enable the annual processing and preparation of 10 billion cubic meters of commercial gas, will become a new channel for ensuring energy security. As Hero-Arkadag noted, the project also includes the creation of extensive social infrastructure alongside production facilities. The creation of 1,041 new jobs, as well as the construction of residential complexes, modern roads, and water supply systems, will elevate the economic development of the Mary Velayat to a new level. This is a vivid embodiment of the human-centered principles of Hero-Arkadag: «The state is for the people!» and of the esteemed President: “The homeland is the homeland only with the people! The state is the state only with the people!»
The country’s commitment to «green» diplomacy should also be noted with pride. The construction of modern facilities aimed at reducing methane emissions and deep purification of gas from carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, as well as the introduction of new technologies into production, demonstrate a responsible approach to environmental protection. Reinforcement works against sand drifts around production sites are also part of ensuring ecological balance.
Turkmen–Chinese energy cooperation has served as a model for the world for more than 20 years. This is confirmed both by the historical roots of the Great Silk Road and by modern large-scale projects, in particular the development of the «Galkynyş» field, which strengthens Turkmenistan’s status as a major gas-producing country and ensures the use of «blue fuel» for the benefit of all humanity. As noted by the First Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC, Ding Xuexiang, the Turkmenistan–China gas pipeline, launched in 2009, currently operates through routes A, B, and C. The development of the fourth phase and the construction of the future D route will mark a new stage of strategic cooperation.
After these words, the image of the Great Silk Road comes to mind, along which caravans once transported silk and other goods. Today, it is being revived in a modern and reliable form—through energy pipelines.
In conclusion, the launch of the fourth phase development of the «Galkynyş» gas field with the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag, and the First Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC, Ding Xuexiang, is an investment in the prosperous future of the two nations. The foundation-laying of a new settlement, road construction, and pipeline expansion symbolize the improvement of people’s living standards. In the future, the fourth phase of the «Galkynyş» field will further strengthen Turkmenistan’s status as a major gas-producing country and ensure that “blue fuel” serves not only the Turkmen and Chinese peoples but the entire region.