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China’s Wen in Turkey to lure rising economic star

Originally published by AFP,08 Oct 2010

By Hande Culpan (AFP)

 ANKARA — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao geared up for talks with Turkish leaders Friday aimed at strengthening trade with a fast-growing emerging economy that has boosted its political influence in the Middle East.

 The first Chinese premier to visit Turkey in eight years, Wen is to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara.

 The focus will be on business links on what is the fourth and last leg of what has been a stormy European tour overshadowed by a currency dispute.

 The highlight of the talks will be the signing of some 10 agreements on trade, energy, transport, telecoms and culture that analysts say will underscore the two countries’ efforts to develop and diversify their contacts.

 “Turkey is a country that China has recently been targeting and focusing on intensely,” Sedat Laciner from the Ankara-based USAK think-tank, said.

 “China wants to have a strong position in Turkey for both economic and political reasons.”

 Turkey, a candidate for European Union membership, has made a swift exit from the global recession, achieving growth rates of 11.7 percent and 10.3 percent in the first two quarters of the year — a pace that is on par with China and above the G-20 group of leading economies.

 The trade volume between the two countries stood at 14.2 billion dollars (10.2 billion euros) in 2009, heavily in favour of China, which exported goods worth 12.6 billion dollars, according to official statistics.

 Turkish business circles say they would like to rectify the situation by attracting more direct Chinese investment. There are currently some 350 companies with Chinese capital operating in Turkey, among them telecoms giant Huawei.

 On Saturday, Wen is expected to meet businessmen in Istanbul where he will also hold talks with President Abdullah Gul and tour historical sites before leaving the country.

 But Turkey’s increasing economic might is not the only point of interest for China, Laciner said.

 “With economic power comes political power. China is also impressed by Turkey’s growing role in the Middle East and with other countries in its environs,” Laciner added.

 Under Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted government in power since 2002, Turkey has greatly boosted ties with countries such as Iran and Syria, under a so-called “zero problems with neighbours” policy. This policy has led to Western concerns that the sole Muslim member of NATO is sliding away.

 Last week, several Turkish newspapers reported that Chinese military planes took part in a training exercise in a Turkish air base in central Anatolia.

 Although officials have not yet confirmed the report, some analysts have described it as evidence of Turkey’s shift to the East.

 The Ankara government insists that it remains committed to Turkey’s traditionally pro-Western path, while seeking a stronger say in regional affairs, as well as closer ties and more trade with eastern neighbours.

 Turkey’s ethnic ties to the Muslim Turkish-origin Uighurs living in China’s separatist Xinjiang region is another reason behind Beijing’s focus on Turkey, Laciner added.

 “China understands that Turkey, which is home to an Uighur diaspora, can have a positive impact on the problem if Beijing maintains friendly relations with Ankara,” Laciner added.

 Turkey accepts China’s sovereignty over Xinjiang, but last year, Ankara heavily criticised the deadly violence in the region — which Erdogan described as “atrocities” — as thousands of Turks and Uighur expatriates took to the street in anger.

 

 

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