Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is in China for an official visit.
Yesterday’s Zaman daily newspaper noted that the visit was expected to give impetus to the development of ties between Turkey and China.
Zaman described the visit as “historic,” and said that this was the first visit of a Turkish Prime Minister to China in the last 27 years.
Today’s Türkiye daily newspaper says that Erdoğan was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız, Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım, Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, AK Party vice-president Ömer Çelik and 300 businessmen and journalists.
The paper says that Eastern Turkistan was the first stop in Erdoğan’s trip to China. The Turkish Prime Minister issued messages of solidarity with Uighur Turks living in the area.
Türkiye adds that Erdoğan visited a plant producing wind turbines in Urumchi in the Xinjiang province and invited factory officials to make investments in Turkey.
During his visit Erdoğan will sign three agreements for nuclear and coal energy cooperation, Zaman says.
Today’s Sabah daily newspaper notes that Erdoğan was given warm welcome by Uighur Turks in Urumchi.
The paper reports Energy Minister Yıldız as saying that the visit to China would play a key role in shaping Turkish decision about the construction of nuclear plant.
Today’s Dünya daily newspaper points out that many agreements for cooperation would be signed during Erdoğan’s visit.
Murat Sungurlu, head of the Turkish-Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists’ Association, says that Turkey and China were going to sign food safety protocol which would clear the way for milk and meat exports.
Today Erdoğan will hold contacts in Beijing, the second stop in his trip to China.