The Turkish branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) announces that it will donate medical supplies and cash to support Turkey in its combat against COVID-19 on March 27, 2020. (Photo/Xinhua)
Focus on trust rather than blame
The most important thing in combating COVID-19 is cooperation and trust instead of blame and suspicion, Wang said during another phone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday.
Wang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone conversation not long ago, during which the two leaders reached important consensus on strengthening anti-COVID-19 cooperation and promoting bilateral relations.
China and Turkey should step up the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously boost political mutual trust and, in particular, understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, he added.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Turkey, Wang said, adding that it is hoped that both sides will make joint efforts to take their strategic cooperative relationship featuring mutual trust and support into the next 50 years.
Noting the severe challenge Turkey is facing as COVID-19 continues to spread, Wand said that the Chinese side extends heartfelt sympathies to the Turkish people, and expressed the belief that Turkey, under the leadership of President Erdogan, will surely overcome the epidemic.
China has always pursued a friendly policy toward Turkey and attached great importance to the friendship between the two peoples, he stressed.
China has provided anti-epidemic supplies to the Turkish side and has given priority to Turkey's urgent procurement needs for medical supplies, he said, adding that China is ready to continue to offer necessary support and assistance to Turkey to fight the outbreak, Wang said.
There is great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Turkey and both sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation to minimize the impact of the outbreak, the Chinese foreign minister said.
Wang also said that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, more than 180 countries, including Turkey, have expressed their understanding and support to China, and China has been providing urgently needed medical supplies to more than 100 countries to fight against the epidemic.
For his part, Cavusoglu said that the two heads of state have had fruitful conversations recently and reached broad consensus on anti-epidemic cooperation and deepening bilateral relations.
The two sides should earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, take care of each other's concerns, strengthen practical cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and finance, and make good preparations for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, said Cavusoglu.
The Turkish foreign minister said that China has not only overcome the epidemic, but also provided assistance to other countries around the world, including Turkey.
China is the country that has provided the largest amount of medical aid to the world, which Turkey highly appreciates, he added.
Cavusoglu stressed that at a time when the virus is still spreading in many parts of the world, the international community should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, rather than the other way around.
(With input from Xinhua)
