Foreign and Military Affairs

China, Turkey voice commitment in fight against terrorism

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-01 22:42

BEIJING - China and Turkey voiced commitment here on Monday to make joint efforts to crack down on terrorism and separatism.

"China would stay firm on safeguarding its national interests relating to the national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, according to a press release from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi also expressed his appreciation during the meeting for Turkey's support of China's efforts to combat the "East Turkistan" terrorist forces that threaten to sabotage China's unity.

The "East Turkistan" terrorist forces pose threats to the development and stability of northwest China, Xi told Davutoglu, noting that China wants to step up cooperation with Turkey in this regard.

A bomb attack on August 19 in Aksu City in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region left eight people dead, including the two attackers, and 15 others injured.

Chinese authorities believe the "three forces," an umbrella category for separatists, extremists and terrorists, are responsible for the attacks.

Xinjiang - with 41.5 percent of its population Uygurs, a large Muslim Chinese ethnic group - is China's frontline against terrorism. The region borders eight central and west Asian countries, many of which have been attacked by terrorist and extremist militant groups.

Echoing Xi's views, Davutoglu said Turkey values its ties with China and would unswervingly uphold the one-China policy and crack down on any activities in Turkey that aim to sabotage China's sovereignty and threaten its territorial integrity.

The two sides also hailed progress made on bilateral relations, according to the press release, pledging to intensify high level political exchange, expand economic and trade cooperation and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues in an effort to safeguard the interests of the developing countries.

Davutoglu's China visit was at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.