Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said at Ashgabat late Tuesday that China and Turkmenistan have enjoyed healthy and steady development in bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992.

Li made the remarks in a written speech at the Ashgabat airport after arriving in the Central Asian country for a three-day official visit.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) is greeted by Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Tachberdy Tagiyev upon his arrival at the airport of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 23, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]??

The friendship and cooperation between China and Turkmenistan had witnessed healthy and steady development in the past 17 years, adding that bilateral cooperation in different areas had been increasingly enhanced and yielded meaningful results, he said.

Li noted that China and Turkmenistan have supported each other on critical issues, worked closely in multi-lateral areas and made positive contributions to regional peace, stability and common development.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) is greeted upon his arrival at the airport of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 23, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]?

Turkmenistan is the first leg of Li's three-nation tour that will also take him to Finland and Uzbekistan.

During his stay in Turkmenistan, Li will hold talks with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, which will focus on bilateral relations and cooperation in economy, energy and other areas between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) is greeted by Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Tachberdy Tagiyev (R) upon his arrival at the airport of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 23, 2009. [Li Xueren/Xinhua]?

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)