Japan and Turkmenistan signed deals worth over $18 billion on a package of projects in the energy-rich central Asian nation, which has become an important supplier of natural gas to China.

Turkmenistan, a reclusive nation of 5.5 million, holds the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas. Since independence in 1991, it has launched ambitious projects to process the commodity at home and find new export routes.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was starting a tour of the five post-Soviet Central Asian nations where former imperial master Russia and China are vying for clout.

“We planned to sign documents on a number of projects in the chemicals sector and power station construction for a total sum of more than $18 billion. These documents have just been signed,” Abe told reporters in the presence of Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

“Japanses companies have now gained one more big business opportunity. And I will be happy if President Berdymukhamedov assists the implementation of these projects.”

He gave no further detail. “Turkmenistan is interested in acquiring Japan’s experience in creating and using new technologies,” said Berdymukhamedov.