China’s newly-appointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visited Türkiye to boost bilateral partnership and explore new areas of cooperation.
Wang Yi met his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara in his first meeting abroad since he took office. Wang Yi was reappointed as China’s foreign minister after former minister Qin Gang was removed from office on July 25 after a month-long absence from office and public view.
Meeting with Turkish President
The veteran Chinese diplomat also held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Erdogan conveyed Turkiye’s desire for stronger collaboration between the two countries, which hold significant influence in global and regional affairs, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
They also discussed efforts to align China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Türkiye’s Middle Corridor Initiative, and hold the first meeting of the high-level working group on the issue.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met with senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Ankara to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields.#China #Turkey https://t.co/o1ddjHxYH0 pic.twitter.com/jAJrJRD6gr
— CCTV+ (@CCTV_Plus) July 27, 2023
President Erogan and Foreign Minister Wang also focused their talks on resolving issues to bolster trade, economic and investment ties.
Wang and Fidan agree to boost ties
Wang, who is also a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, examined bilateral ties in detail met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The Turkish media reported that they discussed the topics of intergovernmental cooperation committee, consultation mechanisms between foreign ministries, work of an economic committee and how to benefit from those mechanisms more efficiently. Cooperauon in energy, agriculture, civil aviation, culture and tourism also came under discussion.
Fidan and Wang also talked about developments in the Middle East, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the global financial system.
Chinese Foreign Ministry announced last week that Wang Yi would be traveling to Türkiye as part of a tour including Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa following the BRICS meeting in Johannesburg.