Against the background of frequent international debt defaults and endless emergence of "Lao Lai" countries, a small Central Asian country has explained with practical actions what "a promise is worth a thousand dollars".
This landlocked country with a population of just over 7 million and an area not as large as Xinjiang will fully repay the US $8.1 billion loan owed to China in advance in 2021.
Not only that, the country also initiated cooperation with China and delivered a huge gift package worth ten billion.
So who is this country? What exactly is the tens of billions of gift packages sent by the country?
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This country is located in Central Asia, Turkmenistan, their country is in the desert, natural conditions are somewhat poor, but underground hides a "great treasure". The second largest gas field in the world-Galkinesh gas field.
Logically, having such a wealth of resources, the economic development is not simple, but the reality is not so.
Because the country of Turkmenistan is relatively backward, it has no money to develop, nor does it have the technology to extract these natural gases, it has created an embarrassing situation that can not be used.
Turkmenistan, which has gone astray, has turned its eyes on some Western countries, hoping to get their help.
Western countries don't offer free lunches. They put forward all kinds of conditions, some of them simply The King’s Rule.
The most unacceptable thing about Turkmenistan is that they are asking it to choose a team in international affairs, to show a position among the great powers, which is undoubtedly already Interference in Turkmenistan's internal affairsIt is .
What Turkmenistan wants is pure economic cooperation, and the development of resources to national development, rather than being involved in a complex political game, so the cooperation with Western countries has not been close.
Just when Turkmenistan was in trouble and clashed with walls around, China stretched out a hand of help. Lent them directlyof 81 billion.
In 2007, China and Turkmenistan signed a series of cooperation agreements. The plan given by China was very realistic. It only talked about jointly developing natural gas without any other conditions at all.
China will provide money, technology and equipment to help Turkmenistan build and develop the Galkinesh gas field, while Turkmenistan only needs to send natural gas to China after completion.
China will also buy the natural gas transported to China at the market price, which is simply a pie in the sky for Turkmenistan.
Not only did it solve the difficulty of developing funds and technology, but also found a stable sales market for natural gas, and did not worry about after-sales problems.
But it is not easy to build this project, because the construction site is in the desert, not only the environment is bad, the material supply is also a problem, and the construction staff are challenged, but the Chinese team only took 2 years to build a central Asian natural gas pipeline of up to 1833 kilometers.
In 2009, Central Asia Gas Pipeline A was put into production, and Turkmenistan's natural gas was delivered directly to China for the first time through the pipeline.
After the construction of this project between China and Turkmenistan, the country of Turkmenistan brought overwhelming changes, the domestic economic line rose, and the foreign exchange reserves tripled in 3 years.
The national economy has grown more than seven times, and over the years, it has been growing, and GDP per capita has surpassed $ 7,000. becoming a middle-income country.。
With the money, Turkmenistan began to increase its investment in people's livelihoods, built more than 20 schools, 10 large hospitals, and renovated the country's roads, so that the people could really enjoy the results of development.
In terms of energy exports, China can be said to be Turkmenistan's cash cow, giving them a direct channel to export energy and no longer having to rely on other countries to transit natural gas.
In the past, they were fooled by other countries that inappropriate prices did not allow exports, they could only lower the price of natural gas over and over again, and now they have more power of speech in the market.
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Turkmenistan as well. Repay gratitudeIn contrast to some “white-eyed wolves”, Turkmenistan, relying on revenue from exports of natural gas to China, paid off the entire loan of $8.1 billion in advance.
Besides, in order to repay, There are also billions worth of projects.In addition to the existing three natural gas pipelines, a fourth pipeline, Line D pipeline, will be built.
It is the longest natural gas pipeline in the world, crossing four countries: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.
After its completion, Turkmenistan’s annual gas output increased from 72 billion cubic meters in 2007 to 63 billion cubic meters in 2019. It has grown 8 times!
Many western countries were jealous, but they had no choice but to watch helplessly.
In 2022, Turkmenistan replaced the new president Sheldar Beldem Mohammadov, who, after taking office, not only did not change the friendly policy towards China, but instead upgraded the relations between the two countries. “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”
The cooperation between China and Turkmenistan can be said to be a model of international cooperation. There are no political conditions attached, and it is completely equality, mutual benefit and common development.
China has interpreted what is called a true friend with practical actions, helping the other party when it is in difficulty, not seeking to pay back.
Turkmenistan has alsoined its commitments to repay loans on time and is actively seeking further cooperation and has truly achieved a win-win scene.
So, what do you think about the cooperation between the two countries? welcome to discuss your views in the comment section.
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