Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on June 6, 2024. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Building a comprehensive, deep and high-level China-Turkey relationship is in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while meeting with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday.

During the meeting with Fidan, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China and Turkey are both ancient civilizations and important members of the G20, and are facing profound challenges in the changing international situation, so the two countries should strengthen communication and coordination to make positive contributions to promoting regional peace and global development.

Wang pointed out that building a comprehensive, deep and high-level China-Turkey relationship is in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. China firmly supports Turkey in continuing to explore an independent and self-reliant development path. It also supports Turkey's efforts to safeguard sovereignty, security, and development interests, and appreciates Turkey's understanding and support for China's just position on core interests related to sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

China is willing to maintain multi-level exchanges with Turkey, play a good role in mechanisms such as the China-Turkey Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, promote effective connection between the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkey's Middle Corridor Initiative, expand cooperation areas, and explore cooperation potential.

China is willing to expand imports of high-quality agricultural products from Turkey, support the continuous improvement of cooperation levels and technological content of enterprises in both countries, and strengthen cooperation in culture, education, tourism, aviation, and other fields, Wang said.

Wang noted that both sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral frameworks, support the UN in playing a core role in the global governance system, oppose hegemonism and power politics, oppose a few countries monopolizing international affairs, oppose building walls and barriers, "decoupling" and "cutting off supply chains," maintain the stable operation of the global supply chain and industrial chain, and promote the establishment of a fair and reasonable global governance system.

Fidan said that Turkey and China have important influence in their regions and globally. The Turkish government attaches great importance to its relations with China, adheres to the one-China principle, and supports China in safeguarding its core interests and major concerns.

China's development is crucial to world peace and prosperity. Turkey opposes bloc confrontation, does not agree with or support erroneous actions that suppress China's development, and does not allow any force to engage in activities on Turkish territory that harm China's sovereignty and security, said Fidan.

The Middle Corridor Initiative is highly compatible with the Belt and Road Initiative, and Turkey is willing to cooperate closely with China to achieve more substantive results in trade, investment, finance, agriculture, tourism, education, and other fields through mechanisms such as the China-Turkey Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee.

Turkey and China are both emerging market powers and members of the G20, with broad common interests in upholding international fairness and justice. Turkey highly appreciates China's fair and just position on issues concerning Ukraine and the Middle East, and looks forward to working constructively with China to make greater contributions to the prosperity and stability of the region and the world, said Fidan.

The two sides also exchanged views and coordinated positions on international and regional issues of common concern such as Ukraine crisis and Palestinian issue.

During the Tuesday meeting, both sides also agree that it is necessary to promote a ceasefire in Gaza and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East. The Palestinian issue is at the core of Middle Eastern issues. The Gaza conflict is currently the focus, and the priority is to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, and permanent ceasefire, improve humanitarian conditions, and release all detained individuals.

The two-State solution is the fundamental way to solve the Palestinian issue. Both China and Turkey support Palestine becoming a full member of the UN and support internal reconciliation in Palestine. China and Turkey will strengthen cooperation to jointly promote the early and comprehensive, fair, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue.

On the Ukraine issue, Wang said that China's position is firm and consistent, and the aim is to promote peace and dialogue. Although the conditions for negotiations are not yet in place, China is committed to peace and will not stop its efforts. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, every effort must be made to strive for it.

Switzerland is hosting a "Summit on Peace in Ukraine" on June 15 and 16. China confirmed on May 31 that it will not attend the conference, as the meeting falls short of China's requests, according to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning.

However, China encourages and supports all initiatives and efforts around the world that contribute to easing tensions and achieving peace, Wang said, noting that China values Switzerland's work in preparing for the peace conference and has provided constructive suggestions to the Swiss side, which have been positively evaluated and appreciated.

Wang said China believes that the world needs to hear more objective, balanced, positive, and constructive voices on the Ukraine crisis. China and Brazil jointly issued a six-point consensus recently on promoting a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, emphasizing adherence to the three principles of cooling the situation: no spillover from the battlefield, no escalation of the conflict, and no provocation by any party.

The consensus also calls for all parties to adhere to dialogue and negotiations, increase humanitarian assistance, oppose the use of nuclear weapons, oppose attacks on nuclear power plants, and maintain the stability of the global industrial and supply chains.

Wang said that he had exchanged views with Fidan, who also welcomed and appreciated the six-point consensus.

Within just one week, 45 countries from five continents have responded positively to the six-point consensus in different ways, with 26 countries already confirming their participation or seriously studying how to join, Wang said, noting that Russia and Ukraine, the two main parties involved, have also affirmed most of the contents of the consensus.

This once again shows that the consensus meets the common expectations of most countries. China believes that the more people participate in the joint appeal, the greater the hope for cooling the situation and the smaller the risk of escalation of conflict, said Wang.

The more countries that support the six-point consensus, the brighter will be the prospects for peace. China sincerely welcomes more countries to support and join the consensus, said Wang.

Global Times