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New Silk Road to carry region to bright future

By Lei Xiaoxun (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-30 07:40

URUMQI: The bond between Turkey and China's Xinjiang region will be rejuvenated as the Uygur autonomous region is on track to regain its status as an important business and trade center on the new Silk Road, said Turkish President Abdullah Gul yesterday.

Gul made the remarks while addressing students and faculty at Xinjiang University in the regional capital Urumqi at the end of his six-day visit to China.

urkish President Abdullah Gul (center) and his wife (on his left) pose for a photo with Uygur ethnic dancers during a visit to Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, yesterday. Lei Xiaoxun

And he expressed surprise at the pace of change in the city.

"What I have seen in Urumqi makes me believe that this amazing city will reclaim its luster as a pivotal transition point along the Silk Road, which started in Xi'an, passed Xinjiang and ended at Estanbel."

He said the Xinjiang autonomous region was shaping up to be a crucial trade center and becoming increasingly attractive to Turkish business people.

Gul noted that many entrepreneurs were among his delegation and he said they were impressed with the business and investment potential.

In his speech, Gul emphasized Turkey's long cultural bond with the Xinjiang autonomous region, stretching back 1,500 years.

"The Uygur people are a bridge of friendship between Chinese and Turkish people," added Gul, who said he hoped his visit would boost exchanges and communication between young people in the two countries.

"I am convinced that there will be Turkish students coming to study in Xinjiang University and Chinese students going to Turkey," he said.

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Gul and his delegation were warmly greeted at the university - many students could not hide their excitement when asked about their visitor.

"I can understand about 70 percent of the president's speech because the Turkish language and the language we speak are very similar," said Ramila Aili.

"We feel very close to each other."

Xinjiang University bestowed the title of honorary professor upon Gul, who once worked as an associate professor at a college and who has a PhD in economics.

While in the region, Gul held talks with Nur Bekri, chairman of Xinjiang, before visiting two leading sustainable energy companies.

During his six-day visit to China, Gul spent time in Beijing, Guangdong and Shaanxi and met President Hu Jintao.

During their presidential talks, Gul emphasized that Turkey was resolutely against terrorism, does not allow terrorist organizations within the country and said he would like to strengthen anti-terror cooperation with China. He also said Ankara would not let Turkish-speaking terrorists fleeing Xinjiang find refuge in Turkey.

Early this year, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, one of the major terrorist groups threatening Xinjiang's security, warned of possible attacks in Beijing during the nation's 60th anniversary celebrations in October. The group is on the UN terrorist list.

China and Turkey also agreed to enhance their dialogue mechanism on security issues and take "more forceful" measures to counter terrorism, separatism, extremism and cross-border organized crime.