President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Tianjin to attend the 25th Council of Heads of State Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), continued his diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the summit. On Tuesday, he held a working dinner at the Tianjin Guesthouse with Cai Qi, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underlining Türkiye’s determination to deepen cooperation with Beijing.
Emphasis on Expanding Cooperation
During his remarks, Erdoğan recalled his meeting a day earlier with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stressing that Türkiye remains committed to strengthening relations with China across all domains.
“In our talks yesterday with President Xi, we underlined our determination to enhance cooperation with your country in every field. We also wish to strengthen our collaboration in platforms such as the United Nations, the G20, and BRICS. We expect your continued support for advancing our relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Erdoğan said.
Highlighting the strong economic dimension of bilateral ties, Erdoğan noted that the trade volume between Türkiye and China is approaching 50 billion dollars, adding that Ankara aims to make this trade relationship more balanced and sustainable.
Strategic Delegation Presence
The dinner was attended by several high-ranking members of the Turkish government, signaling the strategic weight Ankara attaches to its partnership with Beijing.
Among the delegation were:
Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance
Yaşar Güler, Minister of National Defense
Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology
Ömer Bolat, Minister of Trade
İbrahim Kalın, Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT)
The participation of ministers spanning defense, energy, finance, and trade demonstrates the multi-dimensional approach Türkiye seeks to pursue in its ties with China.
Economic Ambitions and Regional Platforms
Erdoğan’s reference to BRICS and the SCO underscores Türkiye’s growing interest in diversifying its international partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances. By voicing support for expanding engagement within multilateral platforms, Ankara signals its intention to play a greater role in shaping Eurasian political and economic dynamics.
The focus on creating a more balanced trade relationship reflects Türkiye’s longstanding concern about its trade deficit with China. While imports from China remain substantial, Ankara has sought ways to expand its exports and attract more Chinese investment into Turkish infrastructure, energy, and technology sectors.
Broader Context
Erdoğan’s engagements in Tianjin highlight the evolving landscape of global diplomacy, where Türkiye positions itself as a bridge between East and West. Participation in the SCO summit offers Ankara opportunities to strengthen ties not only with Beijing but also with other major Eurasian powers, including Russia, India, and Central Asian states.
By pairing high-level political dialogue with concrete economic targets, the visit demonstrates Türkiye’s pragmatic foreign policy approach: maintaining strong links with Western institutions while simultaneously cultivating deeper relations with non-Western blocs.
Editor’s Note: President Erdoğan’s working dinner with Chinese leadership during the SCO summit underscores Türkiye’s ambition to recalibrate its global partnerships. With economic ties nearing $50 billion and growing interest in Eurasian platforms, Ankara is signaling a new phase in its strategic outreach.
