Chinese premier highlights cultural diversity on Turkey visit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C, front) shakes hands with celebrities from Turkish cultural circles in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 9, 2010. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday highlighted cultural diversity, calling for more people-to-people exchanges, as he continued his three-day visit to Turkey.

"Diversity is one of the characteristics of the world culture. We have a bright world just because we have the colorful culture," said Wen while talking with representatives from Chinese and Turkish cultural circles.

"China and Turkey are both countries with ancient civilizations, we can learn from each other," Wen said, "I attach great importance to the cultural exchanges between the two countries."

Wen said China and Turkey, both enjoying deep-rooted cultures, were now on the fast track of modernization and should make joint efforts to implement measures on cultural exchanges and boost bilateral friendship.

Wen also said China and Turkey had decided to add 21 more flights between the two countries to facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Wen arrived in the Turkish capital city of Ankara Thursday night for an official visit. Wen and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held talks on Friday and witnessed the signing of eight agreements on areas such as trade, transport, infrastructure, communications and cultural exchanges.

Turkey is the last leg of Wen's four-nation tour, which has taken him to Greece, Belgium and Italy.

Source: Xinhua