Chinese President Continues Turkey Visit

Chinese President Continues Turkey Visit

Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Thursday that China would like to join hands with Turkey to promote the bilateral relations on various levels.

China believes that fruitful results will be achieved in its friendly cooperation with Turkey in the new century after the two countries forged a new type of partnership, he said at a banquet hosted by Governor of Istanbul Erol Gakir in his honor.

The Chinese president arrived in this largest city of Turkey in the morning from the Turkish capital of Ankara to continue his state visit in the country.

At the banquet, Jiang termed Istanbul, which straddles the Asian and European continents, as a city of charm and a golden bridge linking the East and West.

He said that the economic progress and vitality of the city have deeply impressed him.

Jiang also spoke highly of the role the city has played in the Sino-Turkish friendship, noting that the ancient Silk Road extended from then China's capital Xi'an to Istanbul.

Gakir extended his warm welcome to Jiang, saying that Jiang's visit has written a new chapter in the history of the development of the bilateral ties.

As a world-known historic and cultural city and an economic center, Istanbul will play a significant role in furthering the Turkey-China relations, Gakir added.

Earlier in the day, President Jiang toured an electronic facility manufacturing company in the city. Together with his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel, Jiang also met with Turkish businessmen.

Jiang arrived in Turkey Tuesday for a state visit as the guest of Demirel. This is the third leg of his five-nation visit, which had taken him to Israel and Palestine, and will take him to Greece and South Africa.