Turkish officials have revealed plans to bolster economic ties with China through bilateral trade developments in various fields such as agriculture, investment, and tourism. Turkey sees great potential in the further development of the current trade levels between both nations.
According to Turkey's ambassador to China, Abdulkadir Emin Onen, there is still a lot of room for improvement in boosting cooperation between both nations. Turkey aims to significantly expand existing trade relations at every bilateral level.
In an interview in Beijing this week, Onen stated that Turkey will continue in its efforts to deepen strategic cooperation with China to hopefully transform his country into a priority market and destination for Chinese tourists and investors. Conversely, Turkey is also hoping that China will become its primary market for the export of its domestic goods.
Onen mentioned that both countries will stand to benefit from an enhanced trade relationship, particularly in the agricultural sector. Last year, China imported more than $137 billion worth of agricultural products from its foreign trading partners. Imports from Turkey only stood at around $146 million during the same year and Onen believes there is still a lot of room to elevate those numbers.
The ambassador pointed out that Turkey has a lot to offer in terms of its agricultural products. Over the past few months, Turkey has introduced several new locally sourced products to China. This includes agricultural items such as pistachios, cherries, and seafood. Turkey is planning to build new partnerships with Chinese importers to hopefully export its abundant milk and dairy products.
The director-general of international activities of the Ministry of Trade in Turkey, Mehmet Tan, had shared the same sentiments and stated that both countries should work together to eliminate trade barriers. Tan believes that Turkey can provide China with high-quality products that are in demand with consumers.
China is currently Turkey's largest trading partner in Asia in its third-largest globally. Last year, trade volume between both countries had reached around $23.6 billion, resulting in a trade deficit in China's favor of around 32.3 percent. Turkey is hoping that China would reciprocate its intention of enhancing trade relations through the implementation of more favorable trade and customs policies for Turkish businesses.
China's ambassador to Turkey, Deng Li, had stated at a seminar in Istanbul in March that China is willing to fully cooperate with Turkey in improving bilateral economic ties. Li even mentioned that he expects Chinese investors and tourists to Turkey to more than double in the next two years.
