On December 2^nd, Balakhart Durdeyev,Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to China visited Lanzhou University, and attended the China-Turkey Forum. At the forum, Mr.Balakhart Durdeyev reviewed the history of Turkmenistan's neutral state and stressed that neutrality had become the main principle of Turkmenistan's internal and foreign affairs. Neutral values and world outlook are in line with Turkmenistan's national interests and the goals and tasks of the United Nations for sustainable development. At the same time, he also outlined the friendly relations between Turkmenistan and neighboring countries, stressed the strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan, and bilateral relations will make further positive progress in the future.

Sha Yongzhong, vice president of Lanzhou University, expressed that the friendly relations between Lanzhou and Turkmenistan had a long history. As early as 1992, Lanzhou became the twin cities with Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The people of the two cities have a harmonious relationship. In the past 30 years, the friendship between the two cities has been developing continuously and has made important contributions to the friendship between China and Turkmenistan.

The forum was jointly hosted by Research Center for the Belt and Road of Lanzhou University, the Center for Turkmenistan Studies of Lanzhou University, International Department of China National Petroleum Corporation, and the Institute for Central Asian Studies of Lanzhou University. A total of 70 representatives from the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and various parts of China attended the meeting through "online and offline" way, and conducted a in-depth discussions on themes of China Turkmenistan relations, Turkmenistan's neutral policy, regional peace and development. On the same day, Mr. Balakhart Durdeyev and Mr. Sha Yongzhong also participated the inauguration ceremony of Center for Turkmenistan Studies of Lanzhou University. Finally, the two sides discussed the intention and direction of further cooperation between Lanzhou University and Turkmenistan Universities.