BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao raised a five-point proposal Thursday to advance the Sino-Turkish
friendly and cooperative relationship to a higher level.
Hu put forward the proposal on promoting the
Sino-Turkish partnership on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust, equality
and mutual benefit as well as common development, when talking with visiting
Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes
hands with visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul during a welcoming
ceremony for Gul at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of
China, on June 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>
China was willing to work with Turkey to strengthen
political ties, said Hu, adding that the two governments should strengthen
communication and coordination and support each other on important issues
concerning their core interests.
Their legislatures and parties should continue to
conduct multi-level exchanges, so as to promote understanding and friendship.
According to Hu, the other four points include
expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation, boosting cooperation to
combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and
cross-border crimes, intensifying exchanges and cooperation in the fields of
culture, education, tourism, mass media and public health, and maintaining
multilateral cooperation to promote world harmony.
China is ready to strengthen communication and
coordination with Turkey on the Middle East issue and combating pirates in the
waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, said Hu, noting that China also hoped
to support and cooperate with Turkey in sustainable development and jointly
dealing with the global challenges.
Hailing the long history of friendship between the
Chinese and Turkish peoples, Hu said bilateral relations had made considerable
achievements since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1971.
Hu said recent years had witnessed frequent
high-level exchanges, increased mutual political trust, continuously enhanced
cooperation and close coordination and collaboration in international and
multilateral affairs.
China appreciated Turkey's adherence to the one-China
policy and its support to China on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, the president
noted.
Gul said Turkey attached great importance to
Turkish-Sino relations and spoke highly of China's achievements in its social
and economic development and the significant role China played in international
affairs.
Turkey was willing to strengthen political relations
with China and boost cooperation related to finance, tourism, culture,
infrastructure construction and science and technology, said Gul.
There was great promise for bilateral economic and
trade cooperation, said Gul, stressing that Turkey seeks to further strengthen
trade exchanges with China and expects more Chinese enterprises to make
investments there.
Sino-Turkish trade was 12.6 billion U.S. dollars in
2008, up 6.8 percent year on year, and 8.6 billion U.S. dollars in China's
favor, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Gul also reiterated Turkey's adherence to the
one-China policy and expressed the hope that it could enhance coordination with
China in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations and cement
cooperation in combating terrorism.
After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the
signing of seven bilateral documents on cooperation in foreign affairs, energy,
cultural heritage, mass media and trade finance.
Gul arrived here on Wednesday, kicking off a six-day
state visit to China as Hu's guest.
ANKARA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul
said Tuesday he wants his country to step up cooperation with China at all
levels, calling the two countries "natural partners". Full story
