BEIJING, May 26 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Turkmenistan and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when speaking to Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov over the phone.

High-level exchanges between China and Turkmenistan have provided strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations, said Wang.

China, as a responsible major country, has always followed the principle of equality among all countries regardless of their size in developing friendly relations with other nations, Wang said, adding that China's policy toward Turkmenistan remains consistent and stable, and China highly values the traditional friendship between the two sides.

Noting that China has always viewed the development of China-Turkmenistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, Wang said China is ready to continue working with Turkmenistan to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

China stands ready to work with Turkmenistan to actively promote cooperation in natural gas and other fields, accommodate each other's legitimate needs and create more models of mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to support Turkmenistan in advancing economic diversification and help advance the modernization drive for both sides, Wang said.

China welcomes Turkmenistan's greater role in international and regional affairs, and supports the international initiatives proposed by Turkmenistan, Wang said, adding that China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to achieve positive results of the second China-Central Asia Summit.

For his part, Meredov said that Turkmenistan and China enjoy a time-honored friendship. Thanks to the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership and carried out all-round cooperation, he said.

Stressing that the Turkmen side views China as a reliable cooperative partner, Meredov said his country is firmly committed to friendly relations with China.

He said Turkmenistan is willing to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance high-level exchanges, expand cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment, and discuss advancing the flagship projects in natural gas trade.

Turkmenistan supports the series of important global initiatives proposed by China and is willing to continue to maintain coordination on multilateral affairs with China, Meredov said.