As China and Türkiye mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the partnership is evolving from one centered on trade into a broader strategic relationship driven by infrastructure, green technology, digital transformation and closer political coordination, a Chinese expert said.
“Today, China-Türkiye relations are not merely transactional; they are strategic and structural,” said Hou Na, an anchor of state-owned Chinese broadcaster CGTN, in an exclusive interview with Daily Sabah.
China is one of Türkiye’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade increasing fortyfold over the past two decades, Hou said. Yet the relationship is increasingly moving beyond a simple exchange of goods toward deeper economic interdependence, with the two countries expanding co-investment in infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing, from battery production lines to grid-scale energy storage projects.
The evolution of China-Türkiye relations from a traditional trade mindset toward co-investment could be seen as both a result and a reflection of the convergence of the two countries’ development visions. “The synergy between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Türkiye’s Middle Corridor is not just a diplomatic talking point,” Hou said. “It is being operationalized through transport corridors, logistics hubs and enhanced rail-sea connectivity.”
