The Ahal Velayat Administration of Turkmenistan and China’s Shaanxi Province signed an agreement establishing sister-region ties during the “Central Asia–China” summit held on Tuesday in Astana.

According to Turkmenistan’s official media, the event also announced the opening of cooperation centers under the “Central Asia–China” format, accompanied by video presentations.

Following the meeting, the heads of state of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan signed a Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. They also adopted the Astana Declaration of the second “Central Asia–China” summit and an initiative to facilitate easier mutual travel for citizens.

During his speech, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited the leaders of the participating countries to an international forum scheduled for December in Ashgabat. The event will be dedicated to the Year of Peace and Trust, International Neutrality Day, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutral status.

The “Central Asia–China” format is a new cooperation platform established in 2020. Since its creation, the regional leaders have met twice — virtually in January 2022 and in person in Xi’an, China, in May 2023.