'Belt and Road' initiative to boost China, Turkey cooperation

ANKARA - Turkish academics and officials believed that bilateral economic cooperation and investment will be boosted as China promotes its "Belt and Road" initiatives.

On Tuesday, Chinese embassy in Ankara hosted an academic forum focused on the "Belt and Road" initiatives, which gathered dozens of Turkey's economic experts and officials.

In his opening remarks, Yu Hongyang, the Chinese ambassador to Turkey, briefed his audience on the action plan of the initiatives, which was unveiled late last month.

The initiatives, which were put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aim to promote orderly and free flow of economic factors,

highly efficient allocation of resources and deep integration of markets by enhancing connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas.

According to the plan, the initiatives are open to embrace all countries, as well as international and regional organizations, and to seek common prosperity.

The plan has been established on four principles, openness and cooperation, harmony and inclusiveness, market operation, and mutual benefits, emphasizing policy coordination, connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.

Turkey as a major state located on the ancient Silk Road has already welcomed China's "Belt and Road" Initiative.

Prof. Ridvan Karluk, chairman of Turgut Ozal University School of Economics, recalled in his remarks that the ancient silk road started from China and ended in Turkey.

He believed that the belt and road initiatives should work to benefit the middle class, urging that trade barriers should be minimized, and a green path be issued for the traders along the route.