China, Turkey pledge to build Silk Road economic belt

Chinese and Turkish leaders have pledged to enhance cooperation to jointly build a Silk Road economic belt. Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who is heading a CPC delegation here, met Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Thursday. Liu, who also heads the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said China wanted to work with with Turkey and all the other countries along the route to build an economic belt through enhancing policy communication, traffic connectivity, smooth trade flow, currency circulation and people-to-people exchanges. The potential for bilateral cooperation on culture and tourism is huge, Liu said, calling on the two countries to accelerate the establishment of culture centers reciprocally, share tourism resources, deepen people-to-people exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Gul said the Silk Road idea, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, carries great significance and Turkey would cooperate with China to open a new chapter for the legendary Silk Road. Turkey expected to strengthen cooperation with China on culture, tourism and education as well, he added.