AKIPRESS.COM - President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov presented an Akhal-Teke horse to China on Monday during his four-day state visit that started on Sunday, China Daily reported.

The two Presidents, which are each other's biggest gas trade partners, also vowed on Monday to strengthen comprehensive cooperation on gas.

“Akhal-Teke horses have become messengers and witnesses to the friendship of the two nations,” Xi Jinping said as he addressed a session of the 2014 International Akhal-Teke Horse Association Special Conference, which opened in Beijing on Monday after his meeting with Berdymukhamedov.

It is the first time the conference, initiated by the Turkmen President, has been held outside his country.

Akhal-Teke horses are one of the oldest breeds and there are some 6,000 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan and Russia.

Li Zhe, chairman of Beijing Chinese Business Association and co-owner of most Akhal-Teke horses in China, said there are more than 200 pure Akhal-Tekes in the country. Li and his partners are raising more than 130 in a Beijing suburb and building a breeding center so that more people can see the rare species.

Turkmen Ambassador to China Chinar Rustamova noticed there is a fitting symbolism to the gift, as this is the Year of the Horse.

On Monday, the two presidents also signed a treaty of friendly cooperation, a joint declaration to deepen the strategic partnership and a plan for cooperation from 2014 to 2018.

They also officiated at the signing of 13 other cooperation documents on fields ranging from energy and finance to agriculture.

Xi told reporters on Monday that China and Turkmenistan will strive for an early start on the construction of the pipeline's Line D and expand cooperation on oil and gas processing.