China sees potential in Turkey but lack of trust still a problem

Turkey's importance has increased in the eyes of China but a lack of trust as a result of a large information deficit continues to be the main problem obstructing the full potential of bilateral ties, according to Umut Ergunsü, a young academic living in China The main problem between Turkey and China is a lack of communication, lack of knowledge about each other and a corresponding lack of trust, according to a young academic living in China. 

However, Turkey's strategic importance has increased due to China's policy of reviving the Silk Road, said Umut Ergunsü, ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's visit to Beijing this week and following increased nationalist anger toward Beijing over its alleged mistreatment of Uighur Muslims.

Give us a brief overview of Turkish-Chinese relations.

We have seen a change in China's global strategy, especially after Xi Jinping became president in 2013.

China wants to lead the world in some aspects. The Chinese want to create a leadership position in Asia.

They are also displaying an increasing interest in Central Asia and the Middle East. Although the Middle East is not a major focus of China, as it wants to play a bigger role in the international scene and because it sees a vacuum in the region, it is seeking to get more involved with this part of the world. 

When we analyze Turkish-Chinese relations, we talk about the last 10 years. Before 2000, for China the main concern was the Uighur issue. For Turkey, China was a distant country with a big population. 

Bilateral trade figures rocketed after 2000 when the trade volume between the two countries was around 1 billion dollars. Trade volume increased in parallel with Turkey's growth. In the...