Turkmenistan, China Sign Antiterror Agreement
April 04, 2006
Turkmen President Niyazov (file photo) (RFE/RL)
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)