Chinese President Hu Jintao raised a five-point proposal Thursday (June 25) to advance the Sino-Turkish friendly and cooperative relationship to a higher level.

Hu put forward the proposal on promoting the Sino-Turkish partnership on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit as well as common development, when talking with visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China was willing to work with Turkey to strengthen political ties, said Hu, adding that the two governments should strengthen communication and coordination and support each other on important issues concerning their core interests.

Their legislatures and parties should continue to conduct multi-level exchanges, so as to promote understanding and friendship.

According to Hu, the other four points include expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation, boosting cooperation to combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and cross-border crimes, intensifying exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism, mass media and public health, and maintaining multilateral cooperation to promote world harmony.

China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Turkey on the Middle East issue and combating pirates in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, said Hu, noting that China also hoped to support and cooperate with Turkey in sustainable development and jointly dealing with the global challenges.

Hailing the long history of friendship between the Chinese and Turkish peoples, Hu said bilateral relations had made considerable achievements since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1971.

Hu said recent years had witnessed frequent high-level exchanges, increased mutual political trust, continuously enhanced cooperation and close coordination and collaboration in international and multilateral affairs.

China appreciated Turkey's adherence to the one-China policy and its support to China on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, the president noted.

Gul said Turkey attached great importance to Turkish-Sino relations and spoke highly of China's achievements in its social and economic development and the significant role China played in international affairs.

Turkey was willing to strengthen political relations with China and boost cooperation related to finance, tourism, culture, infrastructure construction and science and technology, said Gul.

There was great promise for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, said Gul, stressing that Turkey seeks to further strengthen trade exchanges with China and expects more Chinese enterprises to make investments there.

Sino-Turkish trade was 12.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, up 6.8 percent year on year, and 8.6 billion U.S. dollars in China's favor, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Gul also reiterated Turkey's adherence to the one-China policy and expressed the hope that it could enhance coordination with China in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations and cement cooperation in combating terrorism.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of seven bilateral documents on cooperation in foreign affairs, energy, cultural heritage, mass media and trade finance.

Gul arrived here on Wednesday, kicking off a six-day state visit to China as Hu's guest.

Editor: 张莹