China welcomes Turkey’s ‘participation in Belt and Road partnership’

ANKARA

Chinese Ambassador to Ankara Yu Hongyang has welcomed Turkey’s participation in Beijing’s intercontinental trade routes network project.

“We sincerely look forward to the participation of all countries, including Turkey, in the Belt and Road partner network so that the fruit of this initiative could benefit more countries and more people,” he said at an event organized in the Turkish capital Ankara to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

“This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which holds the principle of seeking shared benefits through consultation and collaboration. This initiative comes from China, but belongs to the world,” he added.

Yu also recalled the fifth meeting between Turkish and Chinese presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Xi Jinping, in South Africa in July.

“The two heads of states reached important consensus and chartered a clear direction for bilateral relations,” he said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to revive the historical Silk Road with Ankara’s Middle Corridor Initiative, was first raised by the Chinese president in 2013 and it aims to connect Asia with Europe and Africa.

Speaking at the event, Yu said: “A more prosperous China with a wider opening door will surely bring more opportunities to the development of all other countries in the world.”

Also speaking at the event, Turkish Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli hailed relations between the two countries.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s official website, Turkey supports the Road and Belt Initiative “as it has parallel aims with its vision of transport corridors.”

During the reception marking China’s National Day, celebrated on Oct. 1, the guests enjoyed traditional cuisine and dances of China as well.