China and Turkey pledged yesterday to deepen co-operation in trade and nuclear energy development, as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Beijing for talks to boost business and political ties.
Erdogan's visit - the first to China in 27 years by a Turkish leader, following a February trip to Turkey by Vice-President Xi Jinping - came despite the two countries' differences over the deadly crackdown in Syria and over Beijing's handling of Uygurs in the restive Xinjiang autonomous region.
Sino-Turkish ties were plagued in 2009 after violence erupted in Xinjiang, as the Uygurs there share linguistic and religious links with Turks. Erdogan described Beijing's handling of the riots as 'genocide'.
Erdogan earlier spent a day in Urumqi , Xinjiang's capital, meeting regional party chief Zhang Chunxian .
Premier Wen Jiabao , who hosted a welcoming ceremony for Erdogan at the Great Hall of the People yesterday, said both sides showed 'mutual understanding and support in issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity'.
'It is our common wish to continue deepening the friendship and co-operation between China and Turkey,' Wen said in his talks with Erdogan. Wen also noted that Erdogan was the first Turkish prime minister to visit Xinjiang.
Wen added that the two sides should deepen co-operation in nuclear energy, aviation and hi-tech development, and cultural exchanges.