Turkey's newly appointed Ambassador to China Abdulkadir Emin Önen said during his stay in Beijing, his priority will be to improve economic relations, trade and Chinese foreign direct investments (FDI) in Turkey, underlining that many projects are in preparation to broaden the scope of cooperation in culture and education, which are expected to bring the two countries closer together.
Abdülkadir Emin Önen, a former member of Turkish Parliament and chairman of the Turkey-China Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, excelled during his tenure in Parliament, being elected as vice president of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly and vice president of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA). Prior to being appointed as Turkey's new ambassador to China, Önen served as one of the chief advisers to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to Ambassador Önen, one cannot understand the dynamics of the economy and the global structure of the coming decades without having an understanding of China. He believes that improving the various dimensions of Turkish-Chinese bilateral relations is of vital importance.
Regarding the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, Önen stressed that all projects launched in the scope of this initiative are a priority for Turkey. Stating that the Middle Corridor will be one of the main elements of extensive economic cooperation between Turkey and China, he also underlined that Turkey's economic cooperation will not be limited solely to the Middle Corridor and it will also be expanded to include ports, logistic centers, cooperative efforts in the financial sector as well as joint investments in new economic sectors.
Touching upon relevant projects related to the "2018 Turkey Tourism Year" in China, Ambassador Önen said that they have prepared roughly 50 different projects with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism amid aims to reach a target number of 1 million Chinese tourists.
Daily Sabah: How are the current relations between Turkey and China? In which fields can the two countries increase cooperation?
Emin Önen: As the two countries celebrate their 46th anniversary of diplomatic relations, it is worth mentioning that the friendship between China and Turkey goes back thousands of years. Because of this longstanding friendship, bilateral relations between the countries, in terms of the economy and politics, are in very good standing.
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been improving since 2003; however, the strategic partnership agreements signed in 2010 are considered a milestone for the relations. As a result of the agreements, our trade volume has reach $28 billion. While $26 billion of this trade volume consists of Turkey's imports from China, the remaining $2 billion constitutes Turkey's exports to China. I define this bilateral trade as "one-sided love." Turkey, as a trade partner, relies heavily on China, while failing to receive the same interest.
I'm jesting, of course; yet, it seems that we cannot close this gap just by increasing our exports to China. I believe if we can attract foreign direct investment (FDI) from China and be more active in employing cheap finance opportunities for Turkey's larger projects, we might bring a balance to bilateral trade. In order to exchange ideas about balancing bilateral trade, I have recently gathered the CEOs of the 25 companies that invested most in Turkey. Our businesspeople also agree that the trade volume between Turkey and China will improve with investments.
On the other hand, 2018 was announced as the "Turkey Tourism Year" in China, as you know. We believe this is a significant development. With the contributions of our Ministry of Culture and Tourism, embassies and Turkish citizens who have invested in China, we desire to reach the determined target of 1 million Chinese tourists in 2018.
D.S.: As Turkey's new ambassador to Beijing, which fields will you prioritize for improvement?
E.Ö.: Firstly, increasing the volume of our economic relations will be one of our priorities. China is the second largest economy globally and it is expected to become the top economy in a decade. In other words, without understanding China, one cannot understand the dynamics of the global economy and the structure of the coming decades. Being among the top 10 economies in the world is a part of Turkey's 2023 goals.
Meanwhile, we are in the process of discussing new projects in addition to China's "One Belt One Road" (OBOR) initiative, deemed the new Silk Road. As it is known, until the end of 15th century, the ancient Silk Road was very active. The new Silk Road, China's OBOR project, became a humongous project that involves approximately 60 countries. Our priority is to increase the fields of cooperation between Turkey and China while improving economic relations.
In addition, we are planning to implement projects that allow more Turkish students to attend universities in China, improve cooperation between Turkish and Chinese universities and create China desks in Turkish institutions and organizations. Our most significant handicap is that we learn Chinese culture from foreign sources; for instance, we are trying to learn China from an American author's book which is translated from English to Turkish and likewise, there is not a book written in Chinese that introduces China to Turkish culture.
Reiteratively, Chinese people try to get acquainted with Turkey through books written by American or British authors that have been translated to Turkish. There are many fields in which the Turkey and China share similarities, ranging from family structure to cultural life. We have to explore these fields.
In the short-term, our priority is to improve economic relations, trade and Chinese foreign direct investments in Turkey. We are also preparing many projects that will increase cooperation in culture and education which will bring to the countries closer.
D.S.: Do you believe the geographical distance between the two countries is an obstruction for improving bilateral relations?
E.Ö.: Firstly, I would like to express that I really don't understand the term "Far East." In conferences and my visits to universities, I always say the following: Have you ever heard of the Far West? "Far" according to whom? They believed it was a "far" kind of mentality, so they have severed our connections with the region known as Asia and the Far East. A perception that China is unreachably far has been engrained in our minds.
We have to deconstruct this wrong perception. When you embark to the U.S. from Istanbul, the travel time to New York City or Washington D.C. is 10 hours. When you want to go to Beijing from Istanbul, on the other hand, the trip also takes around 10 hours. So, we have to eradicate the term "far." We are trying to implement a 360-degree foreign policy.
Turkey faces the West and EU continues to be an important anchor for us. However, whenever we turn our faces towards Asia or implement policies regarding Asia, there are discussions about a shift of axis. We don't agree with this assessment. Turkey is situated in a prominent region and has to cover 360 degrees without prejudices, regardless of direction.
D.S.: You said that Turkey must have a 360-degree foreign policy, yet, whenever Turkey improves its relations with Asian countries, especially China, Western-based media starts to criticize the country. They claim that Turkey has to "prefer" one side over the other, like NATO or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. What is your take on such criticism?
E.Ö.: EU and NATO partnerships are not alternatives to membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). So, they are not mutually exclusive. You can reach more than 40 capitals with a three-hour flight from Turkey. Therefore, Turkey is an Asian, European, Caucasian, Mediterranean, Black Sea and Middle Eastern country.
We are in a position which disallows us from neglecting anyone. For this reason, developments in Asia are crucial for us. In this respect, we have to improve cooperation with Asia-based institutions and organizations such as the SCO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the coming years. While the world has been economically shifted towards to West, today we are observing that the shift is reversed and it's from the West to the Far East.
Moreover, I would like to underscore that Turkey is an independent country and determines its own policies. It doesn't require the unsolicited advice of others in regards to which organization or institutions Turkey is to cooperate with. Turkey is a prominent country in the region that has created its own policies, has its own foreign policy and military presence.
D.S.: Turkey is on the Middle Corridor of China's OBOR initiative. How do you evaluate the impact of this project on the future of bilateral relations?
E.Ö.: The Middle Corridor not only benefits Turkey; this corridor that starts in China and reaches London and will be beneficial for all. It's a relatively short road and the climate is suitable. Moreover, by 2016, this corridor became a prominent part of the project, almost like a hub.
In this respect, Turkey has been realizing tremendous infrastructure projects which will connect China and Europe. For instance, the construction of the third Bosporus bridge which has a railroad and the renewal of various railroads. The most important step in this field is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad which opened on Oct. 30. With the realization of this project, a product produced in China will reach London through Turkey within 14 days. This will contribute to the increase of trade volume between countries.
We are not only talking about railroads that run through our country. There are many other countries that we plan to cooperate with. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Bangladesh and the Caspian region are all important. It's a complex project and in addition to land routes, there are also sea routes. Turkey has important ports and we are cooperating with China in this matter.
Considering all of these, the OBOR project is not solely an economic project; it has political dimensions. China has allocated a tremendous budget to this project. There are many funding entities involved, including the Asian Development Bank. These funds will be used for infrastructural investments and will allow products to be transported to Europe in the best possible way. For this reason, this project is vital for Turkey's economic development and investment targets.
All projects in the scope of the OBOR initiative are considered a priority for Turkey. The Middle Corridor will be one of the main elements of an extensive economic cooperation; however, it should not be the only one. We will definitely extend and expand our economic relations with China through ports, logistic centers, cooperation in the financial sector and joint investments in new economic sectors.
D.S.: 2018 is to be celebrated as the Turkey Tourism Year in China. Could you inform us about these preparations?
E.Ö.: We are cooperating with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and there are around 50 projects that are currently being prepared. Most of them will be implemented in China and some in Turkey. We are aiming to host numerous Chinese delegations in various cities across Turkey. There will be concerts as well as theatrical performances, along with events that are jointly prepared by the two countries.
These events should be diverse and ongoing. We desire to hold such events in 2018. For instance, Chinese calligraphy is world renowned. Similarly, Turkish calligraphy is just as well-known. We may bring prominent Chinese and Turkish calligraphers together and organize events which share our craft with people. If we can realize such events, we will be able to introduce Turkey to all those who participate in these events. We may organize events like these in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and other cities. We will be in touch with Chinese officials to determine cooperation in these fields.
The Chinese people may show an increasing demand for tourism. There will be events that will continue year-round that involve all people; not merely 500-600 person events covered by the media in a short, single paragraph.
Similarly, we will exhibit the richness of our culture with various activities like shadow play in order to introduce Turkey to China.
For instance, we may also exhibit Göbeklitepe in China, as it is one of the first places where agriculture emerged with its 12,500 years of history. This could arouse interest in China as historical and cultural tourism are the prominent fields of tourism for the Chinese people. We know that Chinese tourists in our country spend significant amounts of money for this.
Chinese tourists fit the definition of "quality tourists" that are preferred in the Turkish tourism sector, because they spend significant amounts of foreign currency in Turkey. We are aiming to realize all of these projects together with our Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Turkish embassy and the private sector.
D.S.: In terms of preparations for the tourism year, in which aspects do you feel an absence of certain elements? Are there efforts to improve these lacking aspects?
E.Ö.: We have met with Ministry of Culture and Tourism along with Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB). The most important issue is finding employees who speak Chinese. There are Chinese Language and Literature departments in 12 universities across the country. We are considering evaluating graduates of these departments in the future process. Addressing a tourists or official delegates in their own language evokes a greater sense of sincerity. Moreover, cultural tourism attracts Chinese people more than sea tourism. In this respect, Turkey is like an open-air museum.
For instance, we see that Cappadocia attracts many tourists from all over Asia, especially China. As hot air balloon tours are a rare experience, there is profound interest among tourists. Even now, there is a very special tourism bond between this region and China. Intensifying this relation and institutionalizing it is among our top priorities.
We are a country that is rich in history. We have the means and numerous locations to offer tourists a unique experience. In this respect, we know that Chinese tourists are fond of Turkey. Our target is to attract as many Chinese tourists we can and organize travels to these locations.
D.S.: The world's second largest economy China is also the second country that makes the most foreign direct investments. What should Turkey do to attract more foreign investments from China?
E.Ö.: Chinese investors are investing an annual $200 billion abroad. I believe there are two essential factors which determine their investments. Firstly, the investment should be feasible and secondly, there should be incentives for investment. In this respect, Turkey has many advantages ranging from tax deductions to acquiring property.
In the Shanghai markets, the exchange rate of Turkish lira and Yuan is not indirectly quoted over the dollar, but is directly quoted. Exchange agreements between the two countries' central banks are deepening. Even though Turkish banks have always shown interest in China, it is possible to expect this interest to increase, especially with the ongoing financial liberalization process in China.
In addition to the close relations between central banks, I would like to express that our door is open to improving relations between banks, other financial institutions, stock markets, supervisory institutions and actors of organized market.
Meanwhile, a country has to be culturally attractive in order for Chinese investors to feel comfortable investing there. On that note, there are Chinatowns in prominent centers around the world. Similarly, we have to establish Chinatowns in Turkey's larger cities. Chinese people are keen on their cuisine; so, we have to cater to their needs. If they discover something of their culture in Turkey, they will adapt more easily.
On the other hand, China should be regarded as a neighboring country now. For instance, the largest contracting and investment firms in Africa are all Chinese. As Africa is a neighbor of Turkey, so is China. Operating in the region, many Chinese firms establish their headquarters in Turkish cities like Istanbul, Kocaeli or others and Chinese investors in the region are increasing by the day.
These relations also involve third parties; we have many fields of cooperation with China in Africa. Considering that Turkish contracting firms are in good shape, why shouldn't the firms of these two countries cooperate regarding investments in Africa? We are trying to achieve this. We want to cooperate with Chinese investors not only in Turkey, but also in third party countries.
D.S.: Some news about Uighurs in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region caused misunderstandings in bilateral relations between Turkey and China in recent years. What is the current situation? Do you believe Turkey and China were able to completely overcome these negativities?
E.Ö.: Both the leaders of Turkey and China understand each other, are close as friends and manage their respective countries well. Between 2016 and 2017, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have met five different times.
Moreover, we understood that China really cares about its relations with Turkey, from how they welcomed and hosted Turkish delegations along with the quality of meetings that were held. These incidents took place in previous years and we could deem these developments as a plot against both countries. We have to overcome these issues and if we make these issues our top priority, we won't have the opportunity to discuss any other subject.
The most important point is to discuss what we should do to improve bilateral relations in terms of politics, the economy and trade. However, we know that there are certain external elements involved in this matter, trying to cause trouble with false pretenses. I believe we can overcome this issue by staying in touch, directly communicating with each other and bypassing any third parties.
D.S.: Your interest in the Asian Pacific goes back a long time. Written in 2003, your master's thesis was titled, "Perception of Asia in Turkish Foreign Policy." In this respect, how do you evaluate the current perception of Asia on Turkish foreign policy?
E.Ö.: Unfortunately, we have neglected Asia for far too long, and have disregarded the developments. However, from 2003 onwards, we see that bilateral relations with many Asian countries improved swiftly. This is the case for Japan, Korea, India and Vietnam.
I would like to underscore that Turkish citizens are always in a privileged position in Asia. We have made a head start there, as we have longstanding friendships with many countries in Asia. We have martyrs and veterans in Korea and have good communications with the country. We have a friendship with Japan that started with the Ertuğrul Frigate incident and that continued with Turgut Özal sending planes to evacuate Japanese citizens from Iran.
Similarly, we have relations with China that date back thousands of years. As a result of these historical friendships, Turkish citizens are cherished and are given the utmost hospitality. Our citizens are deemed as entrepreneurs, businesspeople and employers. This perception is the exact opposite compared to how Europe regards Turkey; our citizens are treated like second-class citizens there.
I don't believe we have fully tapped our economic potential with Asia. We are not able to benefit from the developments in countries like Japan, Korea and China which have finalized their industrialization. I believe we will able to benefit more from them in the following years.
D.S.: Do you want to add anything?
E.Ö.: One of my priorities during my stay in Beijing will be to increase the number of Turkish institutions and organization in China in order to render the Turkish lobby more effective. The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) is an important component of this. We are aiming to realize many achievements in addition to Anadolu Agency's (AA) presence, the Prime Ministry Investment Information Agency office, the opening of a Yunus Emre Institute branch and the formation of Turkish-Chinese Chambers of Commerce in China.
The increasing number of these institutions will be beneficial. As you know, Turkey's Independent Industrialist and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) has also opened an office there. Considering all of this, your human resources increase along with qualified human resources.
Moreover, the increasing number of institutions, organizations and people facilitate the duties of the embassy. We have discussed this with TRT and they are keen on opening an office there. Although it would take some time to establish an office there, it is important to have a headquarters in Beijing in addition to addressing and analyzing Asia. We are currently gathering information about Asia through Western news outlets. I hope 2018 will be a year in which we will make great strides, introducing China to Turkey and vice-versa.
