The Chinese government and the Communist Party of China (CPC) will join hands with Turkmenistan to promote cooperation at all levels, a senior CPC official said?in Ashgadad?Friday.

"Turkmenistan is an important nation in central Asia, and China has valued relations with it, and viewed it as a reliable friend and partner," He Guoqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said during a meeting with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

He appreciated Turkmenistan's adherence to the one-China principle and the country's support on issues concerning China's core interests.

He said China and Turkmenistan have enjoyed a long-term friendship, and over the past 18 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have maintained frequent high-level contact, political trust, economic cooperation, and coordination on international and regional affairs.

He, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, stressed that both China and Turkmenistan are in crucial stages of development.

China is mapping out its 12th five-year plan for economic and social development, and Turkmenistan has worked for a strategy for economic growth and reform before 2030, he said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Berdymukhamedov met on the sidelines of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tashkent and reached consensus on enhancing bilateral relations in the new era.

He said China is looking forward to seeing the implementation of the agreements and projects agreed on by the two heads of states and deepened cooperation on energy resources and in other areas. That, he said, would boost their bilateral trade to new heights.

Berdymukhamedov said the two countries should view the relations from a long-term perspective. He said reciprocity and mutual understanding constitute the foundation for healthy development of their bilateral ties.

Berdymukhamedov voiced the hope for long-term, stable, and reciprocal cooperation with China on energy resources and expanded cooperation to cover other areas like transportation, telecommunication, infrastructural construction, tourism, and public health.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperative documents.