Gu Jingqi, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, delivers a speech at the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese visa application service center in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 26, 2015. China opened here on Monday a visa application service center seeking to better serve Turkish people travelling to its land. (Xinhua/He Canling)
ISTANBUL, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China opened here on Monday a visa application service center seeking to better serve Turkish people travelling to its land.
Gu Jingqi, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, referred to growing people-to-people exchange in recent years between the two countries.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the visa center, Gu voiced readiness to integrate China's "Belt and Road Initiative" with Turkey's development strategy, saying the two countries have a bright future of cooperation as both are facing historic opportunities to realize their visions of national rejuvenation.
As a country linking Asia and Europe, Turkey figures prominently in China's "Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" initiative, which promotes connectivity and cooperation among countries involved.
Ismail Gultekin, Istanbul's vice governor, expressed appreciation of and support for China's efforts to promote friendly ties with Turkey.
