Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz met in Istanbul on November 9, 2026, to co-chair the China-Turkey Green Development Business Forum.
The event, held as the two nations mark the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, focused on aligning Beijing’s industrial capacity in renewable energy with Ankara’s ambitious 2053 net-zero emissions goal.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China reported that the forum, organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey, drew nearly 300 representatives from the political and business sectors of both nations. The meeting showed a deepening strategic alignment between the two countries, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Han Zheng proposed a three-pillar framework to elevate bilateral cooperation during his address. He emphasized the necessity of aligning green development strategies, noting China’s experience in large-scale ecological transition. Han highlighted that China possesses the world’s most comprehensive new energy supply chain, covering photovoltaics, wind power, and energy storage systems—sectors that directly address Turkey’s current infrastructure needs.
“We encourage and support enterprises from both countries to deepen industrial technology cooperation and localized production, helping to land more high-quality green projects and enhance the competitiveness of Turkey’s new energy industry,” Han stated during the forum.
For his part, Vice President Yılmaz acknowledged the critical nature of the global economic shift toward sustainability. He pointed to China’s established leadership in electric vehicles and renewable technology as a vital component for Turkey’s own industrial trajectory.
“Turkey is actively advancing its 2053 net-zero emissions target and looks forward to deepening pragmatic cooperation with China in new energy, storage systems, intelligent production, and sustainable infrastructure construction,” Yılmaz said.
Beyond the immediate focus on green energy, the bilateral talks addressed the integration of Turkey’s “Middle Corridor” initiative with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
This logistical alignment aims to streamline trade routes between Asia and Europe, utilizing Turkey’s geographic position as a bridge between the two continents. The discussion highlighted the potential for increased Chinese investment in Turkey, provided that a stable and favorable business environment is maintained.
Yılmaz noted that China remains Turkey’s largest trading partner. He expressed an interest in expanding this relationship into new sectors, specifically mentioning artificial intelligence, mining, energy, and tourism. The two leaders agreed to use existing bilateral mechanisms, such as the China-Turkey Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, to facilitate these goals.
The discussions also touched upon global climate governance. China expressed its appreciation for Turkey’s role as the host of the COP31 climate conference, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving positive outcomes in international environmental negotiations. This diplomatic synergy reflects a broader effort to coordinate positions on international fairness and justice, as described by Han during the pre-forum exchange.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to support each other’s core interests and to encourage more Chinese firms to utilize platforms like the China International Import Expo to introduce Turkish products to the Chinese market. As both nations look toward the next phase of their 55-year diplomatic partnership, the focus remains on transforming these high-level political commitments into tangible, sustainable industrial outcomes.
