Four developments in Türkiye-China ties highlighted at Beijing reception

At the 103rd anniversary reception hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Beijing, speakers highlighted that visa requirements for Chinese citizens had been abolished in the 55th year of diplomatic relations, flights had more than doubled, and trade volume had reached $50 billion.

The Turkish Embassy in Beijing released footage from a reception held to mark the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. In a speech watched by a large gathering of guests, it was recalled that Türkiye and the People's Republic of China were celebrating the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.

The speech stated that relations had developed under the joint strategic vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was noted that Erdoğan had visited China in August 2025 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at Xi's special invitation, and that the meeting in Tianjin had reinforced the political will to advance relations. It was also noted that the two leaders held a brief meeting on the sidelines of this year's SCO Summit in Bishkek in August, while Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during the CICA Summit in Baku on October 15.

Visa exemption and 59 weekly flights

The speech emphasized that four concrete developments had taken place in the 55th year: China had become Türkiye's largest trading partner, with trade volume reaching $50 billion; visa requirements for Chinese citizens had been abolished as of January 2, 2026; and reciprocal weekly flight frequencies had more than doubled. With Turkish Airlines flights between Istanbul and Chengdu scheduled to begin on November 11, the airline's total number of weekly flights would rise to 59. In addition, three different airlines operate 14 cargo flights per week.

Pekin'deki Cumhuriyet resepsiyonunda Atatürk ve Erdoğan portreleri arasında konuşma

Istanbul in 15 days via the Middle Corridor

It was stated that Türkiye had supported China's Belt and Road Initiative from the outset and that the initiative was naturally compatible with Türkiye's Middle Corridor Initiative. Regular freight services on the China-Türkiye-Europe railway route via the Middle Corridor began in Chongqing and Chengdu in July 2025, and the train reached Istanbul in just 15 days.

The speech emphasized that the Turkish and Chinese peoples, two great ancient civilizations, had been commercially and culturally connected for centuries through the Silk Road. It concluded with the respectful commemoration of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of the Republic, his comrades-in-arms, and all the heroes who fought in the Turkish War of Independence.