Chinese state councilor meets Turkish FM undersecretary on ties

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo on Tuesday met with Undersecretary of Turkish Foreign Affairs Feridun Sinirlioglu on further advancing bilateral strategic cooperation.

Dai said Chinese and Turkish leaders have maintained close exchanges in visits in recent years with increasingly enhanced political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various areas.

China is willing to work with Turkey to step up communication and coordination, expand areas of cooperation and consolidate the basis of their friendship so as to push forward China-Turkey strategic relations, said Dai.

Sinirlioglu, who was here for the second meeting of a joint working group between the Chinese and Turkish foreign ministries, congratulated the recently-concluded 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He said Turkey has attached great importance to relations with China, expressing the country's willingness to further deepen bilateral cooperation in a bid to pursue mutual benefit and common development.

The two sides also exchanged ideas on the situation in West Asia and North Africa as well as other international and regional issues of common concern.