Turkish PM Confident in Closer Turko-Chinese Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 15, 2002

Turkish PM Confident in Closer Turko-Chinese Ties

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Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the forthcoming visit of Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji will substantially advance the friendly relations between Turkey and China in the 21st century.

Ecevit made the statement in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the eve of Zhu's visit to Turkey.

The Turkish government and people were encouraged by the plannedvisit of the Chinese prime minister, he said, adding that he and his colleagues were looking forward to Zhu's arrival.

"China is a very important country and the Turkish people have historic relations with the Chinese people," he said, stressing that "both Turkey and China attach importance to further enhancing the existing relations between the two countries."

In recent years, great progress in the Turko-Chinese relations have been achieved in every field, including economy, trade, and culture, he added.

He expected that an increasing number of Chinese tourists would come to Turkey next year and contribute to the contacts and understanding between peoples of the two countries.

Ecevit said that he would discuss with his Chinese counterpart ways to further increase cooperation in economy, trade, culture andtechnology between the two nations, which will be beneficial not only to the two countries, but also to the regional development.

He indicated that Turkey and China could advance trade cooperation to a new stage and the two countries could also strengthen energy cooperation in central Asia.

Ecevit noted that the Turkish government and people extended warm welcome to the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Turkey in 2000.

He also recalled his visit to China in 1986 in his capacity of deputy prime minister.

Chinese Prime Minister Zhu is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Monday for a five-day visit, during which he will meet with Turkishleaders in Ankara and business circles in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul. Enditem

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