Ashgabat, September 05, 2025 – The Europe Today: The multi-thousand-year history of contacts between the ancestors of the Turkmen and Chinese peoples was reaffirmed as a cornerstone of modern bilateral relations during the recent working visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan to the People’s Republic of China.
Turkmen and Chinese officials emphasized that both nations’ commitment to their historical roots and rich cultural, material, and spiritual heritage forms not only a key part of domestic state policy but also a guiding principle in their international cooperation. This continuity is particularly evident in the deep trust and mutual understanding that underpin present-day Turkmen–Chinese relations.
Historically, the ancient ancestors of the Turkmen, including the Oghuz, Huns, Massagets, Parthians, and Göktürks, maintained close contacts with successive Chinese dynasties. The two great Asian civilizations engaged in dynastic marriages, alliance treaties, trade, and exchanges of military and cultural achievements. During palace ceremonies, Oghuz envoys were seated beside the Chinese emperor, and a Chinese–Turkic dictionary was once compiled, though it has not survived. More than 10,000 Oghuz families settled in China, and by the 8th century, a fascination with Turkic music, clothing, and culture spread across the empire.
The well-documented tradition of sending Akhal-Teke “heavenly horses” from Turkmen lands to China also symbolizes this enduring bond.
These examples highlight the synthesis of political and cultural traditions that shaped centuries of interaction and continue to influence modern relations. In this context, President Berdimuhamedov stressed that today Turkmenistan and China are true friends, strategic partners, and like-minded states, whose cooperation cannot be separated from the profound historical foundations forged over millennia.
