On December 12, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul exchanged congratulatory messages on the opening of the "2012 China Culture Year" in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
In his message, the Chinese president said the Chinese and Turkish peoples have a long history of friendship. Remarkable progress has been made in the development of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations 40 years ago, Hu said. Mutual political trust has been growing and cooperation in various fields expanding steadily, he said. The establishment of the China-Turkey strategic cooperative relations has opened broader prospects for the development of relations between the two countries, Hu said. The China Culture Year in Turkey will introduce to the Turkish people China's long history, its splendid culture and its development achievements in rich and colorful forms. The Chinese people will also attach great importance to and show great enthusiasm for the Turkey Culture Year in China, the Chinese president stressed. Closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Turkey will play a positive role in helping maintaining the diversity of cultures in the world, promoting dialogue among different civilizations and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Hu said.
Gul said in his message that friendly and cooperative relations between Turkey and China in various fields have been developing rapidly. The development of relations between Turkey and China has great potential and it is a top priority of Turkey to make good use of this potential under the framework of Turkey-China strategic cooperative relations. The China Culture Year in Turkey and the Turkey Culture Year in China will open up even broader prospects for cultural exchanges between the two countries and are important occasions for enhancing friendly feelings between the two peoples, Gul said. That will also contribute to the further development of bilateral ties, Gul added.
Hosting culture years for each other was part of the consensus reached by Chinese and Turkish leaders. It is an important move of both sides to carry forward the traditional friendship and expand friendly exchanges. Under the agreement, Turkey will host the China Culture Year in 2012, and China will host the Turkey Culture Year in 2013.
