国内英语新闻：Top political advisor: China attaches importance to co-op with Turkey

ANKARA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China attaches importance to its friendship and cooperation with Turkey, said China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin here Thursday.

    China will enhance exchanges and mutual trust, consultations and coordination in international and regional affairs, and cooperation in economy, trade, culture, education and tourism with Turkey, said Jia at a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the Chinese side is satisfied with the development of bilateral relations and confident in their future friendship and cooperation.

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin(L) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Nov. 27, 2008.

    Jia, who arrived here Wednesday on an official goodwill visit as guest of Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Koksal Toptan, said to further promote bilateral relations is conducive to their mutual benefit and regional peace, stability and development, and conforms to the fundamental interest of the two sides.

    China will work with Turkey to explore new ways and areas for expanding cooperation in economy, trade, project engineering, investment and tourism, said Jia.

    He said China encourages Chinese investment in Turkey and welcomes Turkish businesses to China.

    Erdogan said bilateral relations have progressed smoothly and there are no problems between the two countries.

    Turkey expects to conduct close cooperation with China in international affairs and hopes for more cooperation in jointly fighting the current financial crisis, said the prime minister.

    He said he hoped that the two countries will expand cooperation in economy, trade, culture and tourism and he welcomed China's businesses.

    In a discussion here Thursday with Chinese business people working in Ankara, Jia encouraged them to work hard to the benefit of the two countries and the two peoples.

    Turkey is the second leg of Jia's four-nation visit which has taken him to Jordan and will also take him to Laos and Cambodia.