AKIPRESS.COM - China and Turkmenistan on Friday vowed to deepen energy cooperation and jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt, People's Daily Online reported.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov within the 14th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Dushanbe.

Xi called on the two countries to ensure construction and operation of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline as well as construction of the second phase of the Fuxing Gas Field.

The two countries should optimize trade structure, expand cooperation in such fields as electricity, manufacturing and agriculture, as well as jointly push forward the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and promote cooperation in transportation and telecommunication, the Chinese leader said.

Berdymukhamedov, in turn, said Turkmenistan will enhance mutual political support with China and boost practical cooperation. He added that his country will continue to support China firmly on the issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns.

The President went on Turkmenistan will implement the goal of transferring gas to China as scheduled by participating in the construction of Central Asia-China gas pipeline and the second phase of the Fuxing Gas Field.