Turkey, China to focus on joint investments in energy

BEIJING – Anadolu Agency

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Turkey and China will focus on joint investments and cooperation, said Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak currently visiting China. Albayrak met with Director of China National Energy Administration Nur Bekri in Beijing March 23.

After the meeting in Beijing, Albayrak emphasized that his first overseas trip was to China after he took office, saying that Turkey, because of its location, is an important bridge in energy. 

Turkey’s economy has grown four-fold since 2002 Albayrak said, as well as its exports.  “Now, Turkey’s target is energy security and versatility in energy resources,” he said. The cooperation between the two countries that was brought closer with the official visit of President Erdoğan to China last year will be strengthened in the energy field both at the state and the corporate level, Albayrak hoped.

Within the framework of Turkey’s energy strategy, Albayrak said, coal, nuclear and renewable energy were prioritized and added, “We consider cooperation with China important; we will focus on investment cooperation.”

Bekri said China-Turkey relations had a deep-rooted history, which was strengthened with mutual constructive visits by the leaders of the two countries.

The energy minister, prior to this meeting, visited the China National Electric Investment Company and met with the head of the executive committee, Wang Binghua.

Berat Albayrak also visited the China Development Bank (CDB) and met CDB Vice-President Zheng Zhijie. Albayrak is expected to visit the coastal city of Weihai on March 24 and later Shanghai to head back to Turkey on March 25.