The Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Commission Delegation, which came to Turkey for commercial negotiations, visited Yusuf Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Izmir Branch, and evaluated the cooperation issues between China’s giant port city Shanghai and Izmir.
Bao Bingzhang, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Commission and Head of the Delegation, stated that they are a state-supported business organization in China and emphasized that their purpose of the visit is to see more Turkish products in their country.
Stating that their region is China’s largest trade transfer center and that they host China’s largest trade fairs, Bingzhang said, “We are a region supported by the state with our port, airport and railway. There is 30 billion dollars of trade between the two countries. However, a very important part of this is exports from China to Turkey. “We want to develop exports from Turkey to China,” he said.
Inviting President Yusuf Öztürk to Shanghai to improve cooperation, Bingzhang said that they see the Chamber of Shipping as an important partner in the development of commercial relations between the two countries.
Visa facilitation should be provided
Yusuf Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Izmir Branch, announced that they are ready for all kinds of cooperation to facilitate the trade of Turkish exporters and importers in terms of logistics and to increase the trade of the two countries through maritime routes and ports.
Öztürk said, “Approximately 90 percent of world trade is done by sea. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of maritime transportation even more. The trade volume of 30 billion dollars is high, but it is a small figure considering the size of the two countries. Agricultural products such as olive oil, cherries and aquatic products from our region are exported to China. While Aegean exporters are trying to sell more products, we are ready with our ports to transport more products. I agree that large fair organizations in China are important in the development of trade. Therefore, we expect Chinese companies to participate in fairs in Turkey. I hear that there are some obstacles regarding visas. “I believe that trade knows no borders,” he said.
Reminding that the products of the East have been transported to the West through the Silk Road and via Izmir throughout history, Öztürk said that Turkey, and especially Izmir, should be included in the sea route as well as the Central Corridor railway connection of the Belt and Road Project implemented by the Chinese State. He said it was necessary.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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