这才是“铁哥们”！借中国81亿全额还清，还附赠百亿能源大礼

Core Insights - A small Central Asian country, Turkmenistan, has fully repaid an $8.1 billion loan to China in 2021, defying the trend of many nations defaulting on debts [1][22] - Following the repayment, Turkmenistan proactively sought to deepen cooperation with China, proposing a significant energy collaboration valued at over $10 billion [3][25] Group 1: Economic Context - Turkmenistan possesses substantial natural gas reserves, estimated at 13.6 trillion cubic meters, ranking fourth globally [5] - The country faced severe economic challenges post-independence, relying heavily on Russian transit for gas exports, which led to a significant drop in revenue during conflicts with Russia [7][8] - In 2007, China offered an $8.1 billion loan to Turkmenistan without political conditions, aimed at developing the Galkynysh gas field and constructing a gas pipeline to China [13][15] Group 2: Impact of Cooperation - The completion of the pipeline in 2009 allowed Turkmenistan to become China's largest natural gas supplier, providing stable income and boosting the economy [18][22] - Turkmenistan's GDP increased from $29.84 billion in 2007 to $60.63 billion in 2023, more than doubling due to the partnership with China [22] - The repayment of the loan was seen as a move to maintain trust and secure future income from gas sales, leading to a new agreement to increase gas supply from 40 billion cubic meters to 65 billion cubic meters annually [24][25] Group 3: Future Prospects - The partnership has expanded beyond energy, with projects in agriculture, education, and infrastructure, marking a shift to a comprehensive strategic partnership [33][43] - The new D-line pipeline project is set to enhance energy transit through Central Asia, benefiting multiple countries and providing China with a stable energy supply [31][33] - The relationship is characterized by mutual benefit and trust, with both nations relying on each other for economic stability and growth [41][45]