Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel expressed desire Wednesday to improve ties ahead of talks that began under the shadow of the thorny issue of ethnic Turkic separatists in western China.
Speaking at an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace, Jiang said that his visit aimed to "establish new ties of cooperation and partnership between Turkey and China at the start of a new century."
"I desire to hold constructive and productive meetings with Turkish leaders and engage in a joint effort to reach this aim," the Chinese president told journalists.
Demirel added that the talks would focus on all aspects of bilateral ties and fields where cooperation could be developed between the two countries.
"We will exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, primarily the permanent establishment of peace, stability and welfare in the Eurasia region," Demirel added.
Following the welcoming ceremony, talks between delegations from the two sides got underway, at the end of which they are expected to make a joint declaration and seal a protocol on energy cooperation, Anatolia news agency reported.
Besides bilateral cooperation, the two sides are expected to take up the status of the Turkic Uighurs ethnic group, 8.7 million of whom inhabit the region of Xinjiang and who have long complained of Chinese oppression.
China seeks Turkey's cooperation in its dealings with the Uighurs, some of whom have sought refuge in Turkey.
Xinjiang, predominantly populated by ethnic Turkic minorities, the largest of which are the Uighurs, has long been gripped by tension between the region's Muslim majority and ethnic Han Chinese settlers.
Relations between Turkey and its neighbor Greece -- long spoilt by rivalry over Cyprus and the Aegean Sea -- would also be on Jiang's agenda here, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Turkey is Jiang's third stop in a five-nation tour, which has already taken him to Israel and Egypt.
On Thursday, Jiang will visit Istanbul, from where he will travel on to Greece and then to South Africa -- ANKARA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
