Closer ties

Two decades ago there were only around 50 Turkish nationals in the whole of China. Today in Shanghai alone there are 507 people from Turkey living here long term, according to Deniz Eke, who is the Consul General of Turkey in Shanghai.

And there are many more from this Eurasian country which sits at the crossroads to two continents, traveling to China for the vast business opportunities, diverse culture and profound history that the Middle Kingdom has to offer.

Eke, who has been previously posted to Beijing, has witnessed the increasingly close ties between the two nations, as more Turkish individuals achieve their share of success as part of their life in China.

"When I was in Beijing, I had an apartment of my own and a life of my own for the first time ever," 42-year-old Eke said. She added that it was the good memories of the 1990s when she worked as Third Secretary at the Turkish Embassy that made her willing to come back to the country again, this time to Shanghai.

"Shanghai is an efficient, inclusive and pragmatic city. It's very open to accepting new ideas, new things and new people," she told the Global Times. "The rhythm of the city is amazing."

Diplomat in the making

Citing becoming a diplomat as her long-held dream, Eke joined the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, right after she graduated from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara with a degree in International Relations.

When she was in middle school, Eke, like many of her peers, started thinking about what she wanted to do in life. And she decided that she would rather travel around the world, meet different people and experience different cultures, than do a monotonous nine-to-five job, going to the same office every day.

"I like change. I have very dear memories of every place I have worked so far," the Ankara native said, adding that a sense of patriotism also motivated her to serve in government.

However, the road to a foreign affairs posting is a long and arduous one. In Turkey, candidates have to go through a strict selection process to qualify as diplomatic staff. First there is a written exam designed to test basic analytical skills, then a second written exam to test essay writing and translation skills, and finally a face-to-face interview that helps to evaluate a candidate's comprehensive competency, examining everything from general knowledge to posture, and from personality to communication skills. In addition, there's another set of exams for experienced diplomats if they hope to become ambassadors. "Sometimes it's very challenging, as they try to assess you from all aspects," Eke said.

Adding to the challenge, being a woman often means more obstacles on the career ladder with bigger efforts needed to balance work and home lives. But luckily for Eke, she has always enjoyed the support of her family. "It depends on your choices and you need to find your priorities," said the single diplomat who is the only child in her family.

Effortless adaptation

While many people struggle with culture shock when they arrive in a new country, Eke embraced her life in China effortlessly, and felt she didn't have to adapt to Chinese culture at all.

"When you look at the map, you see China and Turkey on the two ends of a continent, and you may think that the distance is huge, but on the contrary, I feel we have many things in common," she said. "Turkey is a Western country but with an Asian heart and roots."

Illustrating her point, Eke said that Turkey has similar stringed musical instruments to China such as the erhu and the pipa. Turkey also shares the values of hard work and respect for the elderly. Turkish people are also very hospitable and like to entertain friends and guests through long dinners.

Eke said that she has discussed this with a number of Turkish people living in China and that many agree with her and share the same observations.

However, Eke admitted that she is often amazed by the speed at which Chinese cities develop. She said that when she first arrived in Beijing back in 1994, she was instantly struck by the metropolitan landscape that confronted her when she left the airport. "I thought Beijing would be a city with classical Chinese architecture but it was more like a metropolis with high-rise buildings and modern cars in the streets," she said.

Enjoying her stay in China while keeping a busy work schedule, Eke said that her office is dedicated to improving economic relations and cultural exchanges between China and Turkey. "As a diplomat, you come to a point where you can't distinguish your work from your leisure time," she added.

During the weekends, Eke likes to take long walks. While she is strolling around the streets and lanes of Shanghai, she observes the life of people in the city and thinks about the local customs, traditions and society in general. "I always compare the two countries, and almost automatically look for areas in which we can have greater collaboration," she said.