Editor's Note:

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's two-day visit to Turkey this week is seen as a signal of further warming Sino-Turkish ties. But some Chinese still criticize Turkey's actions following the July 5 riots in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in 2009. What are the challenges in future relations? Global Times reporter Xu Ming talked to two experts on this topic.

Trade deficit serious

Zhou Ji, a specialist in Turkish studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

While the bilateral Sino-Turkish relationship has steadily developed for years, there are still challenges.

Economically, in spite of the increasing trade volume between the two countries, the trade deficit between them remains a big problem and could stir anti-China feelings in Turkey. This imbalance is a big challenge that the two countries need to tackle jointly in the next decade.

Another challenge is the "East Turkistan" forces. In a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday, Xi demanded that Turkey should continue its respect for China's unity and adopt effective measures to prevent the "East Turkistan" forces from participating in separatist activities in Turkey.

Pan-Turkish thought has a profound history in Turkey, and in the short term, it is difficult to completely cut off the links between Turkish society and the "East Turkistan" forces. We can only officially demand the Turkish government strengthen its control over people and groups that involve "East Turkistan" forces, so as to avoid unexpected incidents.

For the "East Turkistan" forces in Turkey, religious emotions and ethnic issues are just some of their tools. Any conflict between the two countries, such as over the trade deficit, could be an instrument for them to stir anti-China feelings and launch anti-China activities.

But as far as I can see, in the next few years, the "East Turkistan" forces in Turkey will not have a serious effect on the two countries' relationship. And there is little chance of further riots due to the increasing security controls in the region. Turkey wants to enhance its strategic partnership with China. It wishes to benefit from China's peaceful rise. And China has promised to address problems in trade.

The Xinjiang authorities are doing well in development and maintaining stability at present. As long as it continues heading in this direction, the opportunities for the "East Turkistan" forces' activities will be decreased and even eliminated. It is also important for the media to depict events in Xinjiang in a timely and accurate matter to avoid purposeful distortion by such forces.

Besides, in his talk with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Xi expressed China's willingness to strengthen cooperation with Turkey over international and regional affairs within the framework of the UN. This is a new gesture but also a new challenge. It hints that China is trying to change its passive diplomatic policies and take the initiative.

But China is challenged by how to do this without touching the bottom line of its non-intervention policy. This will be a test of Chinese leaders' flexibility and wisdom.

Turkey backs Chinese unity

Pan Zhiping, director of the Institute of Central Asia Studies, Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences

According to the Ministry of Commerce, in 2011 the trade volume between China and Turkey has reached 18.7 billion yuan ($2.96 billion). As they are both newly emerging markets, the two will further enhance their cooperation in the future.

This is the main trend of the bilateral relationship. There are no serious conflicts between the two countries. But pan-Turkish feeling is strong in Turkey, which may draw the country into the Xinjiang problem.

Turkey is a major location for the "East Turkistan" forces. It has historical reasons. Pan-Turkish feeling means many Turks believe that they and the "East Turkistan" forces are a family, and that they should support them when they are in difficulty. The pan-Turkish religious sentiment in Turkey leaves a lot of room for the "East Turkistan" forces.

The support for "East Turkistan" forces is mainly non-governmental, including people from the opposition party and some irresponsible parliament members. The Turkish government, considering the overall relationship with China to be in its national interests, doesn't support such practices and has reached a consensus with China in supporting the unity of China.

But if Turkey repeats its actions after the July 5 riots in Xinjiang, it will certainly affect the bilateral relationship.

We hope there will be more communication between the two countries. During his visit, Xi invited Turkish enterprises to invest and do business in Xinjiang, which is in a golden period of development and opening-up.