VISION DOCUMENT (DRAFT)
TURKEY - CHINA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“
( Turkey - China )
When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.
Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.
The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.
Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.
People’s Republic of China, on the other hand, has become apparent as an important power that grabs attention worldwide with its surface area, 1.4 billion population, GNP (2019) of 14.36 trillion dollars, natural resources, progress in the fields of industry and technology, veto power in the UN, position in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and newly developed foreign policy strategies.
Turkish - Chinese relations has deep rooted historical background (2000 BC) through the Silk Road. Still, diplomatic relations between the two countries could not be established until 1971 because of the Cold War necessities. After China initiated international expansion program, high profile visits began between Turkey and China. In 1979 China started open policy towards international arena; in this regards Turkey and China performed high officials’ tour. But after 1985 stable relation was interrupted. Turkey-China relation got impetus importance in politics and economics arena in 2003; and after 2009 it got the touched the maximum line. In 2010 the relation got a new phase of strategic relations by the approval of both Prime Ministers. Turkey and China have common interests in the geopolitical and security areas of the Middle East and Central Asia. In view of energy security and ever increasing terrorist activities, meeting the requirements of peace and security in these areas is vital for the interests of both countries.
High development rates captured by Turkey and China recently urge both Turkey and China to take each other into consideration in terms of economy. For China, Turkey is an exit into Balkans and Europe, and an economic partner in the Middle East and Central Asia. Turkey, on the other hand, sees China as partner to strengthen mutual relations in the areas of economy and security. Turkey gives special importance to cooperate with China to improve its relations with Central Asian countries. In this regard, Turkey attaches great importance to SCO. As a matter of fact, at the 2012 summit held in Beijing, Turkey was adopted as "dialogue partner" to the organization, with the support of China, Russia and other member countries. Thus, Turkey moves its relations to a better point in many areas from international trade to security cooperation and intensifies its relations with international organizations such as ASEAN. In 2019, Turkey was visited by nearly 427,000 Chinese tourists.
China, surpassing Japan and South Korea, has become the biggest trade partner for Turkey among the Asia-Pacific nations as of January-June 2003. In parallel with the trading volume, the relations between the two countries have gained speed. The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and China stood at 21.08 billion dollars in 2019 and trade gap weigh against Turkey was 15.9 billion dollars. China is Turkey's largest trading partner in East Asia. The main products exported by Turkey to China are marble and travertine, chrome, copper, lead, iron, zinc, natural borate ores, boron oxides and boric acids. The main products exported by China to Turkey are automatic data processing machines and units, telephones for cellular / other wireless networks, toys, vehicles for receiving, translating and transmitting audio-video and other information, ships for cargo/human transport.
The most important problem regarding Turkish-Chinese relations is ever increasingly grooving trade deficit in favor of China. In the long term, this can produce a set of economic and political problems regarding the sustainability of the relations. Trade deficit arises mainly from Chinese trade policies but there are reasons regarding the Turkish side as well. Along with China's unique advantages in foreign trade, the fact that Turkish businessmen were hesitant to invest in this country also deepened the problem. However, during high-level visits during the last three years, statesmen of the China stated that Chinese companies were encouraging to invest in Turkey. In this case, it is expected to turn into an implementation step. China also started offering advantages in financing opportunities to energy and infrastructure projects in Turkey. The total amount of investment that China has made to Turkey is around 2 billion dollars. Turkey supports the efforts to bring China’s "Belt and Road" initiative to life, and is in a key position for the initiative.
Cyprus issue being in the first place, Turkey has ever tried to take China’s support in the international affairs. In the upcoming period, ground for cooperation may be strengthened within the scope of the organizations such as the UN, CICA, ASEAN in parallel with the growing impact of Turkey within the international platforms.
Both countries can develop an effective strategic cooperation ground regarding the sustainability of the long term interests that bear great importance for both China and Turkey. In this context, it is important to look at the events in a broader geopolitical point of view. In order to bring the Turkish-Chinese relations to an ideal point in the world system that is increasingly gaining a multidimensional appearance, Turkish and Chinese policy makers must steer for a structure that may constitute mutual depth not only on the political and strategic grounds but in the all parameters. It is being deeply felt that there is an urgent necessity for collaborative works of the two countries so that the solutions for the regional issues can be found. Now it is required that the two countries head towards a future structure, in order to uplift the Turkey - China relations an ideal point within a world power schema which takes its form in a multi-dimensional way, by creating a mutual deepening not only in political and strategic basis but also in its each parameters. History offers both the two countries opportunities for deepening their interdependency.
In this context, the Turkey - China Strategic Dialogue, which will mobilize and bring together the entire ecosystem with a strategic approach, will see an important function.
TURKEY - CHINA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“
( Turkey - China )
When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.
Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.
The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.
Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.
People’s Republic of China, on the other hand, has become apparent as an important power that grabs attention worldwide with its surface area, 1.4 billion population, GNP (2019) of 14.36 trillion dollars, natural resources, progress in the fields of industry and technology, veto power in the UN, position in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and newly developed foreign policy strategies.
Turkish - Chinese relations has deep rooted historical background (2000 BC) through the Silk Road. Still, diplomatic relations between the two countries could not be established until 1971 because of the Cold War necessities. After China initiated international expansion program, high profile visits began between Turkey and China. In 1979 China started open policy towards international arena; in this regards Turkey and China performed high officials’ tour. But after 1985 stable relation was interrupted. Turkey-China relation got impetus importance in politics and economics arena in 2003; and after 2009 it got the touched the maximum line. In 2010 the relation got a new phase of strategic relations by the approval of both Prime Ministers. Turkey and China have common interests in the geopolitical and security areas of the Middle East and Central Asia. In view of energy security and ever increasing terrorist activities, meeting the requirements of peace and security in these areas is vital for the interests of both countries.
High development rates captured by Turkey and China recently urge both Turkey and China to take each other into consideration in terms of economy. For China, Turkey is an exit into Balkans and Europe, and an economic partner in the Middle East and Central Asia. Turkey, on the other hand, sees China as partner to strengthen mutual relations in the areas of economy and security. Turkey gives special importance to cooperate with China to improve its relations with Central Asian countries. In this regard, Turkey attaches great importance to SCO. As a matter of fact, at the 2012 summit held in Beijing, Turkey was adopted as "dialogue partner" to the organization, with the support of China, Russia and other member countries. Thus, Turkey moves its relations to a better point in many areas from international trade to security cooperation and intensifies its relations with international organizations such as ASEAN. In 2019, Turkey was visited by nearly 427,000 Chinese tourists.
China, surpassing Japan and South Korea, has become the biggest trade partner for Turkey among the Asia-Pacific nations as of January-June 2003. In parallel with the trading volume, the relations between the two countries have gained speed. The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and China stood at 21.08 billion dollars in 2019 and trade gap weigh against Turkey was 15.9 billion dollars. China is Turkey's largest trading partner in East Asia. The main products exported by Turkey to China are marble and travertine, chrome, copper, lead, iron, zinc, natural borate ores, boron oxides and boric acids. The main products exported by China to Turkey are automatic data processing machines and units, telephones for cellular / other wireless networks, toys, vehicles for receiving, translating and transmitting audio-video and other information, ships for cargo/human transport.
The most important problem regarding Turkish-Chinese relations is ever increasingly grooving trade deficit in favor of China. In the long term, this can produce a set of economic and political problems regarding the sustainability of the relations. Trade deficit arises mainly from Chinese trade policies but there are reasons regarding the Turkish side as well. Along with China's unique advantages in foreign trade, the fact that Turkish businessmen were hesitant to invest in this country also deepened the problem. However, during high-level visits during the last three years, statesmen of the China stated that Chinese companies were encouraging to invest in Turkey. In this case, it is expected to turn into an implementation step. China also started offering advantages in financing opportunities to energy and infrastructure projects in Turkey. The total amount of investment that China has made to Turkey is around 2 billion dollars. Turkey supports the efforts to bring China’s "Belt and Road" initiative to life, and is in a key position for the initiative.
Cyprus issue being in the first place, Turkey has ever tried to take China’s support in the international affairs. In the upcoming period, ground for cooperation may be strengthened within the scope of the organizations such as the UN, CICA, ASEAN in parallel with the growing impact of Turkey within the international platforms.
Both countries can develop an effective strategic cooperation ground regarding the sustainability of the long term interests that bear great importance for both China and Turkey. In this context, it is important to look at the events in a broader geopolitical point of view. In order to bring the Turkish-Chinese relations to an ideal point in the world system that is increasingly gaining a multidimensional appearance, Turkish and Chinese policy makers must steer for a structure that may constitute mutual depth not only on the political and strategic grounds but in the all parameters. It is being deeply felt that there is an urgent necessity for collaborative works of the two countries so that the solutions for the regional issues can be found. Now it is required that the two countries head towards a future structure, in order to uplift the Turkey - China relations an ideal point within a world power schema which takes its form in a multi-dimensional way, by creating a mutual deepening not only in political and strategic basis but also in its each parameters. History offers both the two countries opportunities for deepening their interdependency.
In this context, the Turkey - China Strategic Dialogue, which will mobilize and bring together the entire ecosystem with a strategic approach, will see an important function.
Main Theme
Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons
Sub Themes
New Balances New Economy
Perspectives for Industrial and Financial Deepening
Silk Road Integration and Turkey
Security and Defense Industry
Investment, Trade, Infrastructure and Contracting
Public Diplomacy; Local Authorities, Civil Society, Think Tanks and Media
Change of State Nature, Expectation Management and Multidimensional Security
ASEAN Region, Shanghai Cooperation Organization etc. and Integration in Asia
Energy, Water and Food Security
Science and Technology, Academy and Culture
Middle East - Africa, South and Central Asia
Primary Sectors
Public Diplomacy, Education and Language
Culture and Tourism
Construction, Construction Business and Infrastructure
Health and Health Tourism
Energy, Petro-chemistry and Investments
Logistics, Transportation and Communication
Banking and Finance (Strategic Investment Fund)
Economy and Trade
Media and Communication
Science and Technology
Brand Cities and Environment
Defence and Space Industry
STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (DRAFT)
Method
Inductive Reasoning, Participation and Economic Deepening
Turkey - China Committee of Wise Persons Meetings Workshop
Building Capacity and Ecosystem Inventory
Preparation of Research Projects and their Reports
Development of Pro-active Policy Recommendations
Round-Table Meetings/Workshops
Multilateral Workshops/Studies
Sector Workshops/Activities
Applied Interactive Modelings
Strategic Reports
Publication of sector studies as strategic reports for decision makers, private sector, media and public opinion of the two countries. Providing literature and memory support.
Media Conferences
Other Academic Studies
Strategic Reports, Books, Articles, Thesis and so on Academic Studies
Event Page
Event details and the vision document can be reached via the link below:
https://tasam.org/en/Etkinlik/16261/turkey_-_china_strategic_dialogue_
