Erdogan welcomed by his Chinese counterpart in Beijing

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was welcomed in an official ceremony by his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao yesterday in Beijing. Reiterating that Erdogan is the first Turkish prime minister to pay an official visit to China in 27 years, Jiabao said that his visit to Turkey in 2010 had left a great impression on him. "Both China and Turkey hope to improve friendship and strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The mutual understanding and confidence will be boosted and relations will gain momentum thanks to your visit. I believe today's contacts will be positive, realist and productive," Jiabao said. Speaking in his part, Erdogan said, "I am happy to be the first Turkish prime minister to pay an official visit to China in 27 years. We would like to thank you for your hospitality. We are paying this visit along with a crowded delegation of businessmen." Erdogan added that President Abdullah Gul invited his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to Turkey, and then the two leaders held a meeting which was closed to press. Erdogan and Jiabao also signed four separate agreements on Monday. The Agreement on Cooperation for the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes and a letter of intent on the bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy were signed by Erdogan and his Jiabao yesterday in Beijing. Energy Minister Taner Yildiz undersigned both contracts on behalf of Turkey. Erdogan and Jiabao also signed four separate agreements on Monday which are about the encouragement and protection of agreed investments, cooperation between the country's railway authorities and state televisions China Central Television (CCTV) and the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT).