Chinese foreign minister talks energy in Central Asia but Afghanistan casts a shadow over meetings

Wang Yi addresses concerns among Afghanistan’s neighbours as Turkmenistan and Tajikistan move troops and weaponry closer to their borders

Wang highlighted the importance of Turkmenistan, China’s top natural gas supplier, for the Belt and Road Initiative

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Afghanistan faces further instability as the deadline for American military withdrawal approaches. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:02pm, 13 Jul 2021Updated: 10:40pm, 16 Aug 2021

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged that China will help Turkmenistan address its security concerns amid rapidly worsening conditions in neighbouring Afghanistan, as Beijing hopes to firm up a strategic energy partnership to secure natural gas supplies from Ashgabat.

Wang made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart on the first stop of his three-nation Central Asia tour.

Much of the focus of the trip is on Afghanistan, which faces further instability as the deadline for American military withdrawal approaches.

Describing Turkmenistan as a “truly reliable strategic partner”, Wang said “China is ready to step up cooperation with Turkmenistan in traditional and non-traditional security fields and help the country safeguard its national security”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Both Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, the next stop of Wang’s five-day trip, are moving troops and heavy weaponry closer to their borders with Afghanistan, as Taliban militants seize large amounts of Afghanistan territory, including key border crossings near China.

Because of the “complex and severe domestic security situation” in Afghanistan, Beijing urged its citizens to leave the war-torn country “as soon as possible” after sending a flight to evacuate more than 200 Chinese citizens early this month.

Wang also highlighted the importance of Turkmenistan, China’s top natural gas supplier, for the country’s Belt and Road Initiative. He told Turkmen deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov that both countries should seek to deepen the scope of their cooperation on natural gas, and nuclear and renewable energy in a bid to “forge a long-term strategic partnership in the energy sector”.

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