Presidency’s Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided that harmonization between Turkey's "Middle Corridor" and China's "Belt and Road Initiative" should be accelerated, thus the connection between the historical Silk Road’s west and east gates would be strengthened.
On his Twitter account, Altun said that President Erdoğan visited China as the official guest of the President of the People's Republic of China, and following the CICA Dushanbe Summit and G20 Osaka Summit, the two leaders met for the third time in a month.
Noting that the two leaders, who had the opportunity to thoroughly assess bilateral, regional and international issues in Beijing, Altun stressed that the two leaders agreed to advance bilateral relations in the fields of trade, investments, research and development, science-technology, civil aviation, tourism and culture.
Altun added: “President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided that harmonization between Turkey's ‘Middle Corridor’ and China's ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ should be accelerated, thus the connection between the historical Silk Road’s west and east gates would be strengthened.
In a process of serious challenges to international order and multilateralism, the two sides agreed on reinforcing their strategic cooperation and their contacts for the contribution to regional and global security, prosperity and stability.
During his contacts in China, all aspects of bilateral relations, including the Uighurs, were thoroughly discussed. Our President Erdoğan stated that he wishes the Uighurs to live in China in peace, tranquility and prosperity and conveyed his views and expectations on this issue to his counterpart.
Moreover, the Chinese part invited a delegation from Turkey to China in order to observe the situation of the Uighurs living in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and our President welcomed this invitation warmly.”