China Pivots to Turkmenistan for its Energy Needs!!!

Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov wrapped up a meeting in which Yi said cooperation on natural gas was the “ballast stone” of the bilateral relationship.

China is looking to Turkmenistan to expand natural gas supplies as it cuts back on Australian energy imports.

“China sees Turkmenistan as a long-term cooperative partner on natural gas and is willing to formulate a comprehensive cooperation plan with the Turkmenistan side with a future-oriented perspective,” Wang said, according to a foreign ministry statement on Monday night.

Equally important, the ministry said China and Turkmenistan agreed to “further consolidate and expand cooperation in natural gas and create a full industry chain strategic partnership in the energy sector”.

One thing is sure: China sees Turkmenistan as a long-term cooperative partner on natural gas and is willing to formulate a comprehensive cooperation plan with the Turkmenistan side with a future-oriented perspective.

David Oualaalou is a Geopolitical Consultant, Award Winning Educator, Veteran, Author, and former International Security analyst in Washington, D.C.