Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Wednesday that his country considers its ties with China within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
"We consider our ties with China as based on a comprehensive strategic partnership and on the principle of one-China policy," Erdogan told reporters at the Ankara airport ahead of his departure for the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, state-run Anadolu agency reported.
Erdogan said that during his visit to Beijing on July 2, he will discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping bilateral relations and also regional and international issues.
The Turkish leader emphasized on the importance of bilateral relations within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.
"The BRI is not only an economic initiative, it continues to be an important opportunity for nations of the geography that it encompasses to come together," said Erdogan, adding that China is one of the main foreign trade partners of Turkey.
"We see the need to sustain a strong dialogue with China for the stability of the multilateral trade system in this period reshaping literally the dynamics of global economy," pointed out Erdogan.
Erdogan is due to pay an official visit to China on July 2, following the G20 Osaka summit, which will take place later this month.
