"....From the jus' so's ya know Department....":
ANKARA, April 19: Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Wednesday pledged to boost trade between their countries and revive the Silk Road that once linked China to Europe.
The two leaders signed three protocols aiming at improving, political ties, increasing trade and energy investments after a meeting at the start of Jiang's three-day visit to Turkey.
Details of the protocols were not immediately available and the leaders took no questions at a joint news conference.
A Turkish official close to the talks said there were several planned projects - some agreed on and some awaiting further discussion - ranging from investments in coal mines to transport and irrigation in Turkey's southeast.
'There are major projects in transportation, such as the Kars-Tblisi railway project. Its completion will be a crucial step for the revival of the Silk Road,' the official said.
Linking the eastern Turkish city of Kars to the Georgian capital Tblisi would complete a section of an east-west rail link across Asia, emulating the Silk Road along which ancient caravans took Chinese silk and other products over central Asia to Turkey and European markets.
'The two sides will work to revive the Silk Road,' Jiang told the news conference without elaborating. Turkey has plans to restore an existing but unused railway connection with Iran.
The Chinese president said his country aimed to increase current annual imports from Turkey of $40 million to $300 million, the Turkish official told reporters.
Annual trade stands at $900 million between the two.
'Both sides have the will to improve their ties further in the fields of trade, investment and tourism,' said Demirel.
CHINA WANTS STAKE IN TURKISH ENERGY
Jiang's visit dealt with securing a stake for Chinese companies in Turkey's growing energy market.
'There are some energy projects based on the build operate transfer model,' said the official, without elaborating.
Turkish Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer said last month Chinese firms wanted to build two coal-fired power stations in the northern Black Sea region.
Chinese firms have been building two hydro power plants in Turkey with Turkish partners at a cost of $460 million.
They are also interested in operating coal mines around the Black Sea town of Amasra. Turkey wants access to Chinese mining technology and expertise.
Turkey, a rapidly growing country of some 65 million people, suffers intermittent power cuts as demand for power often exceeds production, particularly in winter months.
Jiang's visit to Turkey follows stops in the region's two other major powers, Israel and Egypt. He will travel to Greece and South Africa after visiting the Turkish capital Ankara and its business hub Istanbul on Thursday and Friday.
Turkey will present him with a State Medal of Honour, although some Islamists and Turkish nationalists have opposed the award over Chinese treatment of Turkic-speaking Moslem separatists in its western region of Xinjiang. |
