Shenzhen (CNS) -- A ceremony was held in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday, to celebrate a further step in the bilateral cooperation between China and Turkmenistan on natural gas trade.
By November 24, a gas volume of 17.5 billion cubic meters had been transmitted from Turkmenistan to China, more than 50% of China's total gas imports, supplying a a wide range of markets including the developed coastal regions of Guangdong and Hong Kong.
According to data provided by Petro China, the Chinese company dominating gas trade between China and central Asian countries, the gas pipelines from central Asia have benefited 18 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and will serve a population of 500 million after final completion of all the branch lines.
Future expansion of the current pipeline projects specified in the blueprint aims to meet a larger clean energy demand in central China, the southeast coastline and additional southern provinces, said Deputy Manager Liao Yongyuan of Petro China.
Petro China also reported that these pipeline projects have given impetus to the related industries and improved the employment rate in countries along the lines. In Turkmenistan, for instance, accelerated gas exploitation is helping that country realize an economic boom and boost social development.
China and Turkmenistan vowed to establish a long-term and stable strategic energy partnership, in the bilateral declaration signed by President Hu Jintao and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on Wednesday.
