Senior CPC official: Healthy bilateral relations serve the interests of Chinese, Turkish peoples

Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said here Friday that it serves the interests of both Chinese and Turkish peoples to ensure healthy and stable development of Sino-Turkish relations.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his official goodwill visit to Turkey.

China and Turkey face similar tasks of promoting economic and social development, safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity and protecting the interests of developing countries in international arena, Li told Erdogan.

"In the current complicated and volatile international environment, China and Turkey should support and understand each other in issues concerning the other side's core interests and ensure their bilateral relations develop in a healthy and stable way in the long term," Li said. "That is in the fundamental interests of both Chinese and Turkish peoples and benefits the world prosperity and stability."

China is ready to continue to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with Turkey, said Li.

He also noted the CPC is willing to explore new ways to boost ties with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party.

Erdogan said he hopes Turkey and China can enhance high-level strategic consultations, expand their trade volume and further cooperate in major projects in such fields as energy and infrastructure.

The two countries have a sound foundation for economic and cultural cooperation and share broad common interests within the frames of the United Nations and the G20, the group of the world's 20 industrialized and fastest-growing economies, said Erdogan.

Li also visited the Ankara office of ZTE, China's telecommunications giant on Friday, urging the company to step up technology research and development and explore ways to achieve sustainable growth.

Li arrived in Turkey on Wednesday and flew to Ankara on Thursday night. He is expected to leave Turkey for Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua