Photo: VCG

Jiang Xuebin, Chinese Ambassador to Turkey, stated that civil aviation authorities from both China and Turkey have decided to significantly increase bilateral passenger flights. He noted that in recent years, the accelerated alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Middle Corridor Initiative has yielded significant progress in practical cooperation across various sectors, the Chinese Embassy in Turkey reported on Tuesday.

During a video interview with Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, the ambassador said that especially after COVID-19, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Turkey has grown significantly, reaching 409,700 in 2024 — a 65.1 percent year-on-year increase — making China Turkey's fastest-growing international tourism market, the embassy reported.

Jiang stated that recently, civil aviation authorities from both countries decided to significantly increase passenger flights between the two countries. Moving forward, the two sides will also deepen cooperation in history, culture, arts, archaeology, and other areas to attract more Chinese tourists to Turkey.

A Chinese tourist surname Liao from Beijing, who enjoyed a 10-day trip to Turkey in May this year, expressed delight upon learning that the two countries plan to increase direct flights. "Last time, I had to take a connecting flight due to inconvenient schedules," she said. "If there are more direct flights, I'll have more time to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery."

During Liao's trip, she visited Istanbul, Fethiye, and Cappadocia. She said Turkey boasts rich tourism resources, with each city offering its own unique charm.

"Also, I was deeply touched by the warm-hearted locals we met during the trip," she said, adding that she looks forward to revisiting Turkey soon.

Beyond tourism, Jiang also spoke highly of bilateral relations and expressed optimism about pragmatic cooperation under the BRI framework.

The accelerated alignment between the BRI and the Middle Corridor Initiative has expanded bilateral exchanges at all levels, the ambassador said. 

Two China-Europe freight trains arrived in Istanbul on Monday and continued their journey to Poland and Hungary, marking a milestone in Turkey's growing role as a logistics hub, local media reported.

The trains, carrying 98 containers, were welcomed at Marmaray railway's Halkali station by Deputy Transport and Infrastructure Ministers Osman Boyraz and Enver ?skurt, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) officials, and members of the press.

"The transit time provided by this corridor offers significant time and cost savings compared to the northern and southern corridors," ?skurt said during the welcoming ceremony.

"Turkey is no longer merely a transit country but is rapidly progressing towards becoming a hub that manages and organizes freight flows and creates value in logistics," he added. "We are very pleased to cooperate with brotherly and friendly countries in this vision, shaped by energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility," according to the report.

During an interview, according to the embassy website, Kars Mayor Otuken Senger noted the city's active participation in BRI cooperation and expressed hope to leverage the China-Europe Railway Express passing through Kars to establish a regionally influential logistics hub.

Senger has closely followed China's BRI, calling it "an exceptionally significant opportunity" for Kars. He stressed that as a key city along the Middle Corridor, Kars will make substantial contributions to Turkey-China cooperation, particularly in railway transportation.

He said Kars holds a strategically important position both historically and geographically. "My goal is to transform Kars into a regional logistics hub under the BRI framework," he said.

Last year, bilateral trade reached $48.3 billion, making China Turkey's second-largest global trading partner, according to the embassy.