ISTANBUL - Visiting Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping addressed a Sino-Turkish business forum in Istanbul on Wednesday, calling for joint efforts to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation into a higher level.

This is the final major event for Xi's stay in Turkey and for his three-nation tour.

China has become Turkey's third biggest trading partner. According to statistics from the Chinese side, the trade volume between China and Turkey increased from some $1 billion in 2001 to nearly $19 billion in 2011, up some 18 times. The Turkish side said the bilateral trade volume hit $24.1 billion in 2011.

Xi arrived in Turkey on Monday evening for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Earlier on Tuesday, Xi held talks with President Gul and met with Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek in Ankara. He flew to Istanbul on Tuesday afternoon and met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Xi is scheduled to wrap up his 10-day visits to the United States, Ireland and Turkey, and leave for China later on Wednesday.