Stable relationship good for economic prospects of both Turkey and China

By Li Weijian Source:Global Times Published: 2015-11-12 23:38:01

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT



Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will embark on a trip to Turkey for the 10th G20 Leaders' Summit from November 14 to 16.

To ensure inclusive and robust growth, the G20 under the Turkish presidency has stated it will focus its efforts on the three Is: Inclusiveness, Implementation and Investment for Growth. The G20 will pay particular attention to infrastructure investment as part of an ongoing trend to strengthen investment cooperation between Beijing and Ankara.

Given national conditions, it can be predicted that Beijing will devote more money and resources in Ankara in the near future.

Yet, it has to be pointed out that despite the joint wishes to strengthen bilateral cooperation, a politically stable Turkey that is friendly to China is a prerequisite for attracting more investment from Beijing.

Ankara, longing for infrastructure investment, has shown strong interest in a number of Beijing-initiated strategies on different occasions, for instance, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. Turkey, as a founding member of the AIIB, is expected to absorb more funds for its infrastructure projects than before.

Before the AIIB came into being, Ankara mainly sought loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. It seems that the capacity of these organizations is now not big enough to cater to the increasing demands.

In addition, these institutions are dominated by Western countries. This means Ankara may have to satisfy certain political conditions in exchange for benefits. The AIIB, under this situation, is a new choice for Turkey. It is the bright outlook of this investment bank that has attracted so many countries to join.

Ankara is also enthusiastic about the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. Admittedly, many countries are still trying to familiarize themselves with the initiative. Yet, it is an overall trend that they, including Turkey, will place China in an increasingly significant status. The "One Belt, One Road" initiative will serve as a platform over which Ankara can satisfy its infrastructure demand.

Developing friendly ties with China is of pivotal importance to Turkey. The Turkish government has been eager to establish close ties with the EU in recent years. A healthy and prosperous economy is a prerequisite to the EU membership. China, with its "One Belt, One Road" initiative and the AIIB, will bring Turkey a number of opportunities. It is for sure that Ankara will seize every chance to strengthen its cooperation with Beijing.

Admittedly, some extreme Turkish nationalists have special bonds with certain forces in China, for instance, those connected with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and are responsible for the anti-China protests launched earlier this year. However, it should be noted that these protests were organized by extreme nationalists, rather than the Turkish government. Erdogan has clarified his stance on the issue during his visit to China this year.

In addition, Turkey is an important country located along the route of the "One Belt, One Road" project. The two countries ought to jointly put the divergences under control. Souring the relationship will be no good for either side. China and Turkey ought to communicate more to realize mutual understanding.

Currently, Turkey is standing at a crucial point. After the general election, the government is being restructured and new policies being formulated. While the domestic policies may undergo some adjustment, the country is unlikely to amend its diplomatic strategies. Ankara's relationship with Beijing will not see fundamental changes after the election.

The author is a professor at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



Posted in:

blog comments powered by Disqus