BU-SIIS Seminar on China-Turkey Relations

February 14, 2014, scholars from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) led by Prof. Yang Jiemian, Director of Academic Committee of the institution, visited Boğaziçi University, accompanied by Consul General of PRC in Istanbul Mr. Zhang Qingyang. Turkish and Chinese Director of Confucius Institute, Prof. Arzu Özturkmen and Dr. Yi Liu, together with Director of Asian Studies Center Prof. Meltem Toksöz, Dr. Altay Atlı, and Prof. Hakan Yılmaz from Department of Political Science and International Relations, attended the meeting. The seminar focused on two topics: Silk Road economic belt from the Turkish perspective and China-Turkish Relations in the Middle East. Dr. Yi Liu introduced the scholars from both sides, and then Prof. Arzu Özturkmen moderated the discussion. Prof. Yang Jiemian gave a brief introduction of the aim and content of their visit, with a particular explanation of Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the possible cooperation between China and Turkey in this framework. Dr. Altay Atlı analyzed China-Turkey relations from four dimensions: long term sustainability of economic relations; the Uighur issue; mutual dialogue and communication; and shifting balances in Turkey’s neighborhood. After assessing each dimension’s strengths, weaknesses, prospects and threats, he believed that both sides should make greater efforts to transform the disadvantages into advantages and turn threats into prospects. Prof. HakanYılmaz discussed the trends of China-Turkey relations from the perspective of foreign policy. He pointed that Turkey had been taking the pro-western foreign policy since the Republican period. With the end of the cold war and the collapse of Soviet Union, Turkey turned to Asia for support. Since 1990s, China-Turkey relations developed very fast, but cannot compare with US-Turkish as well as EU-Turkey relations. In a globalized age, Turkey realized that it cannot compete with China in the field of manufacture, but attempted to develop competitiveness in intangible goods such as knowledge and information, so that it can achieve a win-win strategy with China’s economic cooperation. Prof. Yang Jiemian indicated that in view of the current situation, China-Turkey relations still have a long way to go. It is understandable for China that Turkey wants to play a bigger role in regional and even global stage. But according to China’s own experiences and lessons, he said, both countries do not have much say in the international system yet; it is hard to fulfill the state’s dream without solid economic foundation; and the value diplomacy cannot replace the principle of non-interference in state-to-state relations. During the meeting, Prof. Arzu Özturkmen and Prof. Meltem Toksöz also shared the work of Confucius Institute and Asian Studies Center, with special thanks to Prof. Selçuk Esenbel’s pioneering contribution. The first academic event in the Spring semester and part of CIBU’s academic initiative, this seminar provided a platform for Chinese and Turkish scholars to know each other better, especially in the area of international relations.