By Adnan Akfırat, Chairman of the Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association
We have good news for Türkiye’s industrialists, business people, and exporters!
On the morning of February 21, 2025, at the opening ceremony of the China-Türkiye Trade Development Company, we brought together state officials and companies from both Türkiye and China under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Trade, Mr. Mahmut Gürcan. We made a strong push into the Chinese market and achieved significant results. That afternoon, during an interstate meeting at the Xinjiang State Guesthouse, attended by myself and my Chinese partner Wen Jun, the Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Ma Xingrui, proposed to Deputy Trade Minister Mahmut Gürcan, “Let’s raise Türkiye’s exports to Xinjiang to 2 billion dollars this year.” Our Ambassador Mr. İsmail Hakkı Musa and Chief Commercial Counsellor Mr. Atakan Özdemir were astonished by this proposal.
According to records from Beijing’s Chief Commercial Counsellor’s office, Türkiye’s exports to the Uyghur region in 2024 were only 12 million dollars. The Communist Party Regional Secretary expressed a commitment to purchase products worth 120 times this amount.
Türkiye and China Draw Closer
This promising development became possible after both states rejected attempts by the United States to wedge the Uyghur issue between Türkiye and China.
The joint efforts of the China-Türkiye Trade Development Company, established last September, and the China Business Development and Friendship Association played a catalytic role. This move has further drawn Türkiye and China closer together.
Undoubtedly, this step was facilitated by the insightful approach of both nations’ leadership. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s courageous stance was pivotal. Last June, our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clearly expressed Türkiye’s genuine intentions in Urumqi and Kashgar. China responded by initiating direct flights from Urumqi to Istanbul and approving a 1-billion-dollar investment by BYD in Türkiye.
Our role was instrumental in overcoming hesitations on the Chinese side. We used the opening ceremony of our company to showcase this rapprochement. We organized a highly successful event attended by distinguished businesspeople and government officials, contributing significantly to building warm interstate relations.
Advantages of Turkish Products
A study by the Beijing Chief Commercial Counsellor’s office revealed that Türkiye can supply 1781 product categories, currently imported by China from third countries, at lower prices and higher quality. These products constitute 27% of China’s total imports, and Türkiye enjoys around a 20% advantage in terms of quality and price.
The same study indicates similar advantages in the Uyghur Autonomous Region, where Turkish products in 175 product categories, accounting for 25% of the region’s total imports, offer significantly better quality at more affordable prices.
Opening the Door to the Uyghur Autonomous Region
We are undoubtedly still at the early stages. Many steps remain ahead. The strong problem-solving resolve displayed at the opening makes achieving our objectives possible.
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has a predominantly young population of 26 million, half of whom are Muslims. According to official records, the 12 million Uyghurs in the region are familiar with and highly demand Turkish products. The different ethnic groups living together naturally adopt each other’s consumption habits. Uyghur restaurants in Urumqi predominantly serve Han customers.
From personal experience, living in a complex with mixed Han and Uyghur residents, I observe my Han neighbor regularly buying freshly baked pide bread from the local bakery—typical Uyghur behavior uncommon elsewhere in China.
In Urumqi, Han Chinese residents commonly adopt Uyghur dietary and cultural habits. Uyghur music and dances have become commonplace among Han residents throughout the region.
Provided we avoid limiting Turkish products solely to the Uyghur ethnic group, there is tremendous potential. We initially aim to establish strong sales channels in the Uyghur region, eventually using it as a stepping stone for nationwide distribution.
Products imported to the Uyghur Autonomous Region already pass through Chinese customs, assuring quality standards required by China. High local demand significantly eases Turkish products’ entry into markets predominantly frequented by Han Chinese.
An outstanding example is Ülker, present in the Uyghur region since 2003 and breaking sales records, which only now, after 22 years, is entering major supermarket chains through the China-Türkiye Trade Development Company.
Cross-border E-Commerce Opportunities
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s three-legged Free Zone, operational since November 1, 2023, with centers in Urumqi, Kashgar, and Horgos, offers extensive opportunities for Turkish exporters. Kashgar Free Zone trades with Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Horgos, the world’s largest land port, facilitates trade with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Mongolia, with the Europe-bound rail line primarily passing through here. Urumqi’s Free Zone has become a critical trade hub linking China with Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe.
Through Urumqi’s Free Zone, imports benefit from a 9%-40% tax reduction, enabling low-duty e-commerce trade across China and Central Asia. Additionally, end-users enjoy tax benefits on annual online purchases up to $3,500.
Turkish traders can also leverage Urumqi as an export base for Central Asia, Southwest Asia, and Russia.
Expanding our Capacity
A saying attributed to Mevlana Rumi and Haji Bektash Veli states, “No matter how vast the sea, each person can only take as much water as their container holds.”
China’s total imports in 2024 amounted to 2.5 trillion dollars, with 14 billion dollars from the Uyghur Autonomous Region alone. Currently, Türkiye’s share is minimal.
Increasing Türkiye’s share requires expanding our export capacity to China. Realizing Ma Xingrui’s vision is primarily our responsibility.
As the China-Türkiye Trade Development Company, we have started working diligently, aiming to achieve significant results akin to extinguishing Prophet Abraham’s great fire!