September, the early autumn month, is a season of harvest and also symbolizes new beginnings. Looking back through the long river of history, the friendly exchanges between China and Türkiye have distant origins, with moving chapters written along the ancient Silk Road as early as over a thousand years ago. On August 4th, 1971, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations, opening a new chapter in the history of China and Türkiye ties. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, there have been frequent high-level exchanges, continuously deepening political mutual trust, steadily advancing economic and trade cooperation, all driving the bilateral relationship to consistently reach new heights.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China ( CPC), guided by President Xi Jinping of the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind, strategic cooperation between China and Türkiye has continuously deepened, with the comprehensive strategic partnership growing more substantive and deeper, presenting a vibrant new chapter of development. Against this backdrop, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou Kaan Başkurt shared his observations and insights on the development of China- Türkiye relations, drawing from his over two years of tenure in Guangdong.

Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou, Kaan Başkurt

Consulate as a bridge: Local exchanges foster people-to-people bonds

Consul General Başkurt shared that since beginning his diplomatic career in 2003, he has accumulated 22 years of experience, having been posted to countries including Saudi Arabia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and Ukraine. China is the sixth country in which he has worked. The Consul General noted his early connection with China, including a visit to Hong Kong, and his continued focus on China's development during his postings in Japan and South Korea. He stated, "China has always been a focus of international attention, with its achievements in external exchanges and economic development being particularly remarkable. In daily life, the ubiquitous 'Made in China' products, especially various electronic goods, are a vivid reflection of this."

In late 2023, Kaan Başkurt assumed his position as Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou and has now served for two years. It is understood that the consular district of the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou covers the four provinces/regions of Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi and Hainan. During the tenure, he has visited several cities including Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Nanning, Zhuhai, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Jiangmen. He pointed out that some of these cities have already established close ties with Türkiye. For instance, Guangzhou and Istanbul are sister cities, which has effectively promoted friendly exchanges between their peoples. Likewise, Shenzhen and Ankara as well as cities in other Chinese provinces under the Consulate’s jurisdiction, such as Xiamen and Guilin have sister city relations with İzmir and Muratpaşa, respectively.  Consul General Başkurt also worked on establishing new sister city relations between Chinese cities and Turkish cities, such as between Fuzhou and Balıkesir, which is in the process of becoming official soon. The Consulate General looks forward to facilitating more sister-city relationships between cities in the Greater Bay Area and Türkiye, aiming to expand the local cooperation network and uncover more collaborative opportunities.

Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou Kaan Başkurt

visited Jiangmen Urban Planning Exhibition Hall.

As a globally influential investment destination, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area attracts attention from various countries. Consul General Başkurt remarked, "I am pleased to see an increasing number of enterprises from South China making their mark. This region has nurtured a large number of outstanding companies with global vision." He further emphasized that Guangdong is an important economic and cultural hub in southern China, playing a leading role in the nation's economic trade, as well as scientific and technological innovation. He has always maintained an optimistic outlook on the development prospects of Guangdong and China. Consul General Başkurt specifically noted that Turkish companies have long actively participated in the Canton Fair. As the largest comprehensive trade fair with time-honoured history, the Canton Fair has attracted its largest foreign exhibitor delegations from Türkiye in recent years. Taking the 136th Canton Fair as an example, more than 150 Turkish companies participated. He stated, "The Canton Fair is not only a significant reflection of Guangzhou's status as an international trade center but also a key platform for economic and trade exchanges between Türkiye and China."

Additionally, Consul General Başkurt believes that people-to-people exchanges are a crucial way to enhance mutual understanding between the citizens of the two countries. He has visited several Chinese universities and actively supports the establishment of inter-university exchanges and student visitation programs between Chinese and Turkish institutions, building bridges for the youth of both nations to meet and understand each other. He expressed, "Academic cooperation between the Pearl River Delta and Turkish cities is expected to deepen further in the future." Simultaneously, he noted that Türkiye possesses a high-quality workforce and a large number of professionals graduating annually from its excellent universities, providing a solid foundation for Chinese companies to establish Research and Development (R&D) centers in Türkiye. "There is great potential for cooperation in this field, which is conducive to technology sharing and talent complementarity between the two countries." He stated that the Consulate General will continue to fully promote practical cooperation between Türkiye and China across various fields, deepen the friendship between the two peoples, and inject new momentum into the long-term development of bilateral relations.

People-to-people exchange: A contemporary chapter in the dialogue between Silk Road civilizations

China and Türkiye, located on the eastern and western ends of Asia respectively, have maintained uninterrupted people-to-people exchanges across ancient and modern times. Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, while Türkiye, as a bridge connecting Europe and Asia, boasts a diverse and blended culture. Throughout long history of interaction between Chinese and Turkish peoples, the two sides have influenced each other, learned from one another, and accumulated rich resources for cultural cooperation.

Istanbul, a historic city straddling Europe and Asia, was once a vital hub on the ancient Silk Road and has witnessed millennia of friendly exchanges between Chinese and Turkish peoples. Consul General Başkurt noted that this city, as a key port linking East and West, witnessed countless merchant ships frequently sailing to China, reflecting the long-standing economic, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions.

Today, Istanbul continues to embody the spirit of openness and integration carried by the Silk Road. Visitors can take a boat across the Bosphorus Strait, experiencing the unique geographical landscape of Europe on one side and Asia on the other, along with its multicultural atmosphere. Consul General Başkurt stated that Türkiye, as a famous global tourist destination, places particular importance on tourism cooperation with China. He pointed out: "The Pearl River Delta region has a population of over 80 million, with a developed and dynamic economy, presenting enormous potential in the outbound tourism market. We warmly welcome more Chinese friends to explore Türkiye 's unique charm."

Consul General Başkurt has also shown a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture and customs. He said: "I have watched lion dance performances multiple times and had the honor of participating in the 'Finishing Touch' ceremony; I have also watched Cantonese opera several times and even went on stage to experience its unique charm up close." He also mentioned that the Consulate General specially organized a Turkish delegation to visit the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Art Museum and watch a performance together, with the Turkish delegation members showing great interest in Cantonese opera art. "During my time in China, I have tried to experience traditional culture as much as possible, whether it's dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival or admiring the moon and tasting mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. All these experiences have allowed me to feel the profound depth of Chinese culture."

In promoting cultural exchanges, the Consulate General has actively collaborated with local institutions. Previously, the Consulate General of Türkiye in Guangzhou and Guangzhou Library jointly planned and hosted the "China- Türkiye: Reunion on the Silk Road" photography exhibition, which vividly recreated historical scenes of the Silk Road through images, showcasing the profound friendship forged between China and Türkiye during their long interactions along the route. In April last year, Türkiye 's Trabzon State Theatre cooperated with Guangdong Province's Lufeng Shadow Play Troupe from Shanwei City to present the "Multicultural Pavilion · Global Journey Station 47" event at Guangzhou Library, staging three consecutive shadow play performances that attracted numerous citizens. During the performances, Türkiye 's Karagöz shadow play and Guangdong's Lufeng shadow play were presented together, vividly demonstrating the dialogue between the two civilizations across vast distances.

Consul General Başkurt pointed out that this was the first public performance in mainland China by Türkiye 's Trabzon State Theatre and its first joint performance with a Chinese troupe. Despite the geographical distance, the two countries share striking similarities in traditional cultural forms like shadow play. "After last year’s successful event in Guangzhou, this year Chinese Lufeng shadow play team went to Türkiye to bring Chinese shadow play performances to Turkish audiences," Consul General Başkurt stated. "We hope this can become a long-term cultural exchange project between Türkiye and China, further promoting mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples."

Guangdong's Lufeng Shadow Puppetry and Türkiye 's Karagöz Shadow Puppetry Shared the Stage.

Karagöz Shadow Puppetry Display at the Consulate General of Republic of Türkiye in Guangzhou

Currently, with the Mandarin craze across West Asia, studying in China has become an increasingly popular choice for Turkish youth. Simultaneously, a growing number of young Chinese are setting foot on Turkish soil, actively embarking on cross-cultural exchanges and exploration. To date, China has established four Confucius Institutes in Türkiye, located at Middle East Technical University, Boğaziçi University, Okan University, and Yeditepe University respectively. Meanwhile, the Yunus Emre Cutural Center officially opened in Beijing in 2021, further promoting two-way language and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Consul General Başkurt pointed out: "In recent years, an increasing number of Turkish citizens are learning Chinese, while many Chinese people have also begun studying Turkish. They serve as cultural ambassadors in our bilateral people-to-people exchanges, successfully building bridges that connect hearts and minds through language communication." He emphasized that "When it comes to travel, knowledge gained from books is usually not deep enough; true understanding comes from personal experience," encouraging young people from both countries to visit each other's nations and deepen their understanding through firsthand experience.

Economic and trade cooperation: Strategic alignment drives practical collaboration

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of both countries' leaders, China- Türkiye relations have continued to deepen, with significant progress achieved in exchanges and cooperation across political, economic, and cultural fields. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with the President of Türkiye Erdoğan in Tianjin, north China, Aug 31th, 2025. Erdoğan was in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025. The two sides have engaged in in-depth discussions on bilateral relations, reaching broad consensus and injecting strong momentum into elevating China- Türkiye relations to a higher level.

Beyond head-of-state diplomacy, high-level interactions between China and Türkiye have been frequent, characterized by two-way visits and multi-layered advancement. Consul General Başkurt pointed out that such high-level exchanges cover multiple key areas including health, technology, and investment, playing a significant role in comprehensively deepening strategic cooperation between Türkiye and China.

As bilateral political relations continue to deepen, economic and trade cooperation between China and Türkiye also shows broad prospects. It is reported that in 2024, bilateral trade volume reached $42.885 billion. From January to June 2025, the bilateral trade volume has already hit $22.475 billion. Consul General Başkurt stated, "In 2024, bilateral trade between our two countries approached $45 billion, a considerable scale, and is expected to surpass this important threshold within 2025." He further revealed that in sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, and transportation, many Chinese companies have shown interest in investing in the Turkish market. He anticipates that the scale of bilateral investment will continue to expand, emphasizing this as a mutually beneficial trend: "Although Turkish investment in China is currently relatively modest, we have noticed that more and more Turkish companies are actively seeking investment opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and across China. This vividly reflects the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of our bilateral relations."

Turkish-Chinese joint production is a key area with potential for expanded cooperation between China and Türkiye. Consul General Başkurt highlighted that Türkiye 's customs union with the European Union provides a significant advantage for Chinese companies producing in Türkiye –their products can enter the EU market duty-free. " Türkiye 's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, combined with its relatively low operational costs and extensive logistics network, makes it highly attractive for Chinese companies seeking regional expansion," Consul General Başkurt emphasized. He stated that Türkiye welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and jointly explore broader international markets.

There is a vast potential for cooperation in green energy between the China and Türkiye. Currently, China is actively promoting the global transition to green and low-carbon development, having established the world's largest and most comprehensive new energy industrial chain. Meanwhile, Türkiye released its 2035 Energy Transition and Renewable Energy Strategy last year, accelerating the transformation of its energy structure. Consul General Başkurt pointed out that China has developed rapidly in the green energy sector, achieving remarkable results particularly in solar and wind power. Türkiye possesses abundant solar energy resources, hosts Europe's largest solar power plant, and has established a certain foundation in domestic solar panel manufacturing. He stated that there is potential for both sides to expand cooperation in joint production.

Konya Karapınar solar power plant

 China's Largest Photovoltaic Power Base: Talatan Photovoltaic Station in Qinghai

Furthermore, Consul General Başkurt highlighted China's leading capabilities in the electric vehicle sector and its advanced experience in energy storage systems and battery technology, noting these as key areas for future bilateral cooperation. He also mentioned that while Türkiye has established a foundation in onshore wind power, its offshore wind development is still in the early stages. In contrast, China possesses mature technology and extensive experience in this field, offering broad prospects for collaboration. Consul General Başkurt emphasized that green energy is a critical direction for global energy development. Given that China and Türkiye each possess distinct advantages and strong complementarity in this sector, both sides should further deepen cooperation, share technological achievements and market opportunities, and jointly contribute to global energy transition and low-carbon development.

The strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Türkiye 's Middle Corridor Initiative has injected strong momentum into China- Türkiye economic and trade cooperation. In 2015, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on linking these initiatives, accelerating cooperation. On November 6, 2024, the first meeting of the China- Türkiye working group on this alignment was successfully held in Beijing. Consul General Başkurt pointed out that Türkiye was one of the earliest supporters of the BRI, and the two initiatives share highly compatible visions. He specifically mentioned that under the Belt and Road framework, the China-Europe Railway Express recently launched a new route starting from Guangzhou, passing through Türkiye, and directly reaching Europe. "The transportation time is only about two weeks, with costs significantly lower than air freight, greatly enhancing logistics efficiency between the two countries," he said.

Previously, the Kumport Terminal, a key project under China- Türkiye Belt and Road cooperation, has been operational, bringing tangible benefits to local communities. The Kağıthane-Istanbul New Airport metro line, funded with Chinese participation, commenced operations in 2023. The trains, manufactured in China, have a design speed of 120 km/h. The line is still being expanded and is expected to form a 69-kilometer loop upon completion in 2025, becoming one of the longest metro loops in Türkiye and globally. Consul General Başkurt emphasized that future bilateral cooperation will extend beyond logistics into infrastructure construction and industrial investment. "This multi-dimensional cooperation lays a solid foundation for our bilateral relations, and the alignment of our initiatives is a crucial support for this process," he stated.

 Kağıthane-Istanbul New Airport Metro Commences Trial runs.

The year 2026 will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Türkiye. As important emerging major countries and members of the Global South, China and Türkiye demonstrate broad prospects for cooperation against the backdrop of the collective rise of the Global South. Consul General Başkurt expressed that there is great potential for future Türkiye and China cooperation. Standing at this new starting point of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, bilateral relations face new historical opportunities. It is anticipated that both sides will continue to uphold the guiding principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. By deepening strategic communication and practical cooperation, China and Türkiye will create more benefits for their peoples and contribute greater stability and positive energy to world peace and development.