On February 14, 2007, Turkmen President Gurbungali Berdymukhamedov met with Chinese President Hu Jintao's Special Envoy & Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Ismail Amat, who is here to attend the inauguration ceremony of Turkmenistan's elected president.

Ismail Amat first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Berdymukhamedov and congratulated Berdymukhamedov on his inauguration as president of Turkmenistan. Ismail Amat said China attaches great importance to its ties with Turkmenistan. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 15 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing soundly and steadily with expanded cooperation in all areas and close coordination in international and regional affairs, which conforms to common interest of both peoples, he said. Ismail Amat spoke highly of late president Saparmurat Niyazov's contributions to bilateral ties during his lifetime and pledged China will as always support the development road chosen by the Turkmen people based on their national conditions. Ismail Amat said China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to earnestly implement all agreements reached by both sides, in a bid to push forward bilateral ties.

Berdymukhamedov thanked President Hu for dispatching a special envoy to his inauguration ceremony and asked Ismail Amat to convey his cordial greetings for President Hu and Premier Wen. He reaffirmed that Turkmenistan will continue to pursue its friendly policy towards China and is ready to work with China to seriously fulfill all agreements already agreed upon between both sides. Berdymukhamedov pledged his country will firmly support China's position on the Taiwan, Tibet and other major questions and be actively committed to strengthening pragmatic cooperation in all areas to benefit both peoples.

Berdymukhamedov was officially inaugurated as president of the Central Asian nation at the grand ceremony in Ashgabat on the morning of the same day. He also serves as head of the Turkmen government, according to the constitution of the country. Leaders and government representatives from nearly 30 countries attended the ceremony.

Ismail Amat arrived in Ashgabat on the evening of February 13 and was greeted at the airport by Turkmenistan's acting parliament speaker Akdja Nurberdyyeva and other officials.