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April 04, 2006

Turkmenistan, China Sign Antiterror Agreement

Turkmen President Niyazov (file photo) (RFE/RL)

April 4, 2006 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and his visiting Turkmen counterpart Saparmurat Niyazov have signed an agreement to cooperate against extremism, separatism, and terrorism.

China's official Xinhua news agency says the document foresees China and Turkmenistan cracking down on separatist forces in "East Turkestan." Some Muslim Uighurs -- the majority in China's western Xinjiang province -- are seeking an independent state they call "East Turkestan."


On April 3, Niyazov and Hu signed an agreement on building a gas pipeline linking their countries. Turkmenistan's state newspaper, "Neutralny Turkmenistan," says the pipeline will enter operation in 2009.


Niyazov's six-day visit to China began on April 2.


(AP, Xinhua, Reuters)


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