Foreign and Military Affairs

Turkish ambassador: Constant progress in China visible

By Ai Yang (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-08 11:56

Turkish Ambassador to China Murat Salim Esenli talked to China Daily about his experience and views about the 12 th Five Year Plan.

China Daily: As the Turkish ambassador, what social and economic changes have you felt the most since you took office in 2009, and how have they in turn influenced your work and life here in Beijing?

Ambassador: I have greatly felt the effects of the social harmonization policies of the Chinese Government throughout the time I have spent here. I am happy to see that the Government is working resolutely against real estate bubble and determined to curb the inflation through various monetary tools, inter alia, increase in reserve ratio. These are the primary concerns on the way for a harmonious society.

Turkish Ambassador to China Murat Salim Esenli

Since my arrival of 2009, even in the face of global economic downturn, constant progress in China is easily visible in people’s livelihoods in all walks of life, from production, transportation and education to health services. Beijing has become an international city with all services readily available in order to provide a comfortable life for everyone from the locals to expatriates to migrants.

One personal note, my wife Evren and I had our baby boy Selim Ege born in Beijing last year. His Chinese name is Huzi (虎子). Naturally we are more interested in the beautiful parts of Beijing. Overall, this is an easy city to live in perhaps except the traffic, but the government and the municipality is working hand in hand to overcome this universal problem facing all major cities in the world. Although the jury is out on the final outcome, I am sensing the initial positive impacts of various precautionary measures vis a vis the traffic and related to this the air quality.

China Daily: In 2010 China and Turkey decided to seek cooperation in building up to 5,000 km of railways, and increase trade volume to $50 billion by 2015. How are the projects going now and what other cooperation is likely to proceed as China implements the 12th Five Year Plan?

Ambassador: All the high profile projects are being handled by the relevant authorities which have been instructed by Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey and Premier Wen Jiabao during the latter’s official visit to Turkey in 2010.

As two Ambassadors, myself and my distinguished colleague Mr. Gong Xiaosheng in Ankara, we follow up on these projects through related departments diligently.

So far I visited 30 cities and had a firsthand experience of the infrastructure development in diverse regions of this great country. In short what I have observed is most impressive.

As far as I am concerned, the 12th 5 year plan is very realistic. It is chartered with due care to transform China and equip the society with the essential tools to embrace the second half of the 21 century with ease. I am confident that the 12th 5 year plan will charter the way for a more harmonious country and will consolidate People’s Republic of China’s place as a prominent member of the international community. The plan would be an important example for all developing nations regardless of their size. The targeted progress envisages China to become more innovation and service sector oriented country. This is necessary for China so that it would take the leading role in economic and financial future of the 21st century. The plan is also determined to eliminate all the pitfalls in economic, environmental and social spheres in order to provide a smooth transitional phase from production oriented society to innovation oriented one.

Investment in the western part of the country is important aspect of the Plan. Turkey is also interested in investing in the same region. With transportation and communication channels further developed between western regions and the rest of the country, including the neighboring states, it would be easier and more lucrative to enhance our bilateral trade. With an average of 20% increase peranum in our bilateral trade, 50 billion USD worth of bilateral trade by 2015 is achievable. Decisions which are being taken by the Turkish and the Chinese authorities are facilitating the target set by our distinguished Prime Ministers.