BEIJING: Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek is set to embark on an official visit to China this week, where he will participate in a series of high-level meetings aimed at enhancing trade and investment between the two nations. The visit will commence with the joint working group meeting on November 6 in Beijing to deliberate on the harmonization of the Middle Corridor Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Harmonization of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and the Middle Corridor Initiative was initially signed in Antalya, Turkey, in 2015. The upcoming meeting in Beijing is expected to cover key topics such as air and road connectivity, green transformation, energy cooperation, industry, investments, as well as trade and economic issues.
Minister Simsek’s itinerary also includes attending the second meeting of the Trkiye-China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee (ICC) on Nov
ember 7. Co-chaired by Simsek and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Guoqing, this committee represents the highest-level consultation mechanism between Turkey and China. Established by an MoU in 2015, the ICC’s agenda includes prioritizing cooperation areas and evaluating collaborative efforts in various sectors including politics, economy, trade, energy, transportation, security, culture, and tourism. The first meeting of this committee took place in Ankara in 2016, and the timing of this second meeting is significant, positioned between the BRICS Summit and the forthcoming G20 Summit.
In addition to these official engagements, Simsek will conduct bilateral meetings during his stay in Beijing. His agenda includes discussions with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun, and senior executives from Chinese financial and investment firms such as ICBC and the Bank of China. These meetings are anticipated to further explore economic and trade relations, with a
particular focus on establishing a more balanced and sustainable trade structure and exploring investment opportunities from China to Turkey. Notably, bilateral trade volume between the two countries surpassed $48 billion in 2023, with China being Turkey’s largest trading partner in Asia and third in the world.