China, Turkey pledge to advance strategic cooperation

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday in Beijing, vowing to advance bilateral strategic cooperation.

Hu said he believed that Erdogan's visit would increase mutual understanding, expand pragmatic cooperation and push forward the development of China-Turkey strategic cooperative ties.

Hu said bilateral relations have developed smoothly in recent years under the joint efforts of both sides, featuring great progress in bilateral cooperation.

The formation and development of the bilateral strategic cooperative relations have exerted a positive influence on the well-being of both peoples, as well as the peace and development of the world, he said.

China appreciates the Turkish government's adherence to the one-China policy, said Hu, adding that China is willing to enhance political mutual understanding with Turkey, respect and care for each other's core concerns, and support each other on major issues concerning sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Noting that China and Turkey have complementary economies, Hu called on both sides to deepen pragmatic cooperation, so as to push forward the bilateral strategic cooperation.

As the Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey is being held in 2012 and the Year of Turkish Culture in China will be held next year, Hu suggested that both sides take this opportunity to boost bilateral people-to-people exchanges and enhance bilateral traditional friendship through cultural activities.

On international matters, Hu said since the world economic recovery is tentative and the situation in West Asia and North Africa remains turbulent, China and Turkey should strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs and major international and regional issues. Doing so will jointly safeguard and promote world peace and development, he said.

Erdogan said Turkey hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China and expand cooperation and communication in the areas of economy and trade, investment and culture.

He reaffirmed that Turkey will stick to the one-China policy.

Turkey underscores China's position and role in major regional and international issues, and is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with China, said Erdogan.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Erdogan arrived in Urumqi, capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Sunday, kicking off his four-day official visit to China.

During his stay in Beijing, Erdogan held talks with Premier Wen and attended a Turkey-China business forum with Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

Erdogan also met with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Vice President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday afternoon.