During the meeting with Erdogan, the Chinese leader urged the two nations to strengthen their mutual trust as China and Turkey are facing mounting challenges and growing common responsibilities in an increasingly tougher global fight against terrorism.
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Drones, helicopter gunships and commando units have been despatched to the scene”,
it said, adding that one “terrorist” had been killed in the clashes.
A final deal has been elusive, with Mr Erdogan noting in an interview with China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that “impediments” have emerged after an initial Chinese proposal, but also said that the issue would be on the agenda in Beijing. Iraq condemned the air strikes as a “dangerous escalation and an assault on Iraqi sovereignty“, saying it was committed to ensuring militant attacks on Turkey were not carried out from within its territory.
Erdogan called for closer cooperation against xenophobia, discrimination and Islamophobia.
Turkey entered discussions in 2013 with a Chinese state-run company over a contract for an antimissile system worth $3.4bn, raising eyebrows among other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members.
Wu Sike, a former special Chinese envoy to the Middle East, said the links between the Uygurs and Turkish Muslims should serve as a bond of friendship, instead of being “leverage” exploited by some forces for their own ends.
Earlier this month, the Thai government deported 109 Uighurs back to China, prompting fierce criticism from Turkey, the United States and rights groups. Nawaz Sharif while greeting him on the visit first of all felicitated him on his election as president and for conducting peaceful polls in his country last June.
According to some of Turkey’s media experts, a number of Turkey’s opposition parties are behind recent anti-China protests, adding that they were trying to make trouble for Erdogan’s then forthcoming China trip.
The Turkish president appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for facilitating and making possible the intra-Afghan talks. Before his departure, Prime Minister Nawaz held a banquet in his honour.
He highlighted high-speed railways, new energy, aviation, finance and investment as particular areas of opportunity. Erdogan says Turkey is an important crossroad across Eurasia, and geographically a major hub in the Silk Road Economic Belt.
He said China’s Belt and Road initiative is of great strategic significance, and Turkey’s response is both quick and active.
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Critics have accused Turkey of a double-standard as its government continues to deny responsibility for the genocide of millions of Armenian Christians a century ago. “I also hope Turkey will provide a better investment environment for Chinese companies doing business there”, Xi said.
