Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Chinese leader Xi Jinping upon his arrival for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Sunday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, marking the fifth annual summit hosted by China since the forum was established in 2001.

In their discussions, both leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing the China-Turkey strategic cooperative relationship. Xi Jinping, serving as the rotating chair for the summit, suggested elevating the relationship to new heights and seizing the momentum of "an era of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes."

Erdogan, in turn, noted the great potential for cooperation between Turkey and China in digital technologies, energy, healthcare, and tourism. He also emphasized the importance of joint steps to harmonize the Middle Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi Jinping proposed deepening practical cooperation by further aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the Middle Corridor Initiative, advancing the development of the China-Europe Railway Express's southern route, and enhancing collaboration in new areas like new energy, 5G, and biomedicine. The cooperation aims to enhance trade and connectivity by developing infrastructure such as ports, logistics centers, and transport corridors, enabling faster and more efficient trade routes between Asia and Europe. Specifically, they seek to position Turkey as a "natural bridge" for north-south and east-west traffic, improve transit speed (e.g., from the Turkish port Mersin to Umm Qasr in Iraq in under a week), and establish Turkey as a key logistics and economic hub connecting regions through investments totaling billions of dollars by 2029.

Erdogan also underlined the need for bilateral trade to be supported with investments to keep it balanced and sustainable.

The leaders also discussed various regional and global issues, including the latest situation in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, possible joint steps for Syria's development, and other matters of mutual concern.

Xi Jinping mentioned that next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Turkey. He stated that maintaining the high-level development of China-Turkey relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and the common interests of the Global South.

Xi suggested consolidating political mutual trust, supporting each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns, and strengthening counterterrorism and security cooperation. Erdogan reiterated his support for the 'One China' policy.

The Turkish Presidency's Communications Directorate stated that the leaders discussed a range of issues during their meeting. This SCO summit is being held on Sunday and Monday.

The cooperation between Turkey and China within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Middle Corridor Initiative is expected to bolster trade and connectivity, positioning Turkey as a strategic bridge between Asia and Europe.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Chinese leader Xi Jinping upon his arrival for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.