Top diplomats of China, Turkiye, emphasize mutual trust

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said on Wednesday that China is ready to work with Turkiye's new government to promote mutual trust, enhance strategic coordination and deepen cooperation in all fields.

China will also work with Turkiye to firmly support each other's core interests as well as national security and stability, he said.

Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with the country's new foreign minister Hakan Fidan in Turkiye.

It was their first meeting since Fidan assumed the post on June 3 after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection in May.

Wang said China and Turkiye, both major developing countries and representatives of emerging economies, share common interests and hold huge potential for cooperation.

China supports Turkiye in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions and safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and legitimate rights, Wang said.

He also expressed China's support for the country to play a more important role in the regional and international arena and China's opposition to any external interference in Turkiye's internal affairs.

Wang called on the two sides to make good use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, better align the Belt and Road Initiative with Turkiye's Middle Corridor and keep advancing cooperation in energy, education, culture and other areas.

He told Fidan that China is willing to import more quality products from Turkiye, support the use of local currencies for trade settlement and encourage more Chinese companies to invest and develop in Turkiye.

China will also strengthen coordination and cooperation with Turkiye under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Wang said.

Together, China and Turkiye can amplify the voice of emerging market countries, uphold true multilateralism, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, oppose erroneous practices such as decoupling and inject more stability into a turbulent world, he added.

Fidan said Turkiye pays great attention to its relationship with China. His country does not subscribe to the notion China's economy or technologies "pose a threat" and opposes attempts to smear or contain China's development, he said.

The Turkish foreign minister also said activities that undermine China's territorial integrity are not allowed within Turkiye's territory.

Turkiye will join hands with China to give full play to the role of governmental cooperation mechanisms, jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, energy and tourism and deal with global challenges, Fidan said.