Beijing invites Turkish delegation for fact-finding mission in Xinjiang, says Erdogan advisor

The following is a translation from a short news article on TRT Ankara‘s foreign radio website. On February 4, Amnesty International had published a press release, demanding “an international fact-finding mission to investigate credible allegations that up to one million Turkic Muslims are being arbitrarily detained in ‘political education’ camps across Xinjiang, a region in northwest China”. AI had addressed their demand to the UN Human Rights Council.

TRT World (Chinese), July 4, 2019 — President Erdogan has given a positive response to China’s invitation to examine the Uyghurs’ situation

埃尔多安总统积极回应中方观察维吾尔人状况邀请

Presidential communications director Fahrettin Altun said that Beijing had invited a delegation to carry out an on-site observation on Uyghur life in Xinjiang autonomous region.

总统府通讯署署长阿勒屯（Fahrettin Altun）表示，北京邀请一个代表团前往中国对在新疆自治区生活的维吾尔人的状况进行实地观察。

In a statement published on social media concerning President Erdogan’s China trip, Altun said that during Erdogan’s visit to China, all aspects of relations between Turkey and China had been discussed, including the Uyghurs.

通过社交媒体就总统埃尔多安的中国之行发表声明的阿勒屯说，在埃尔多安总统的中国访问期间，包括维吾尔人在内，土耳其和中国关系的所有方面得到全面讨论。

Altun sermonized:

阿勒屯讲道：

“President Erdogan has made it clear that our only wish is that Uyghurs in China live in peace, happiness and prosperity, and to give our opinions and expectations to our counterparts. Also, the Chinese side invited the Turkish side to send a delegation to China to carry out an on-site observation on Uyghur life in Xinjiang autonomous region. The revered President has responded positively to this invitation.”

“埃尔多安总统表明了维吾尔人在中国生活在和平，幸福和繁荣之中是我们唯一的愿望，并将关于这一问题上观点和期待转达给对方。此外，中方还邀请土耳其方面派遣一支代表团前往中国，以对生活在新疆自治区的维吾尔人状况进行实地观察。尊敬的总统对此邀请作出了积极回应。”

Altun also said that President Erdogan and Chinese State Chairman Xi Jinping have reached consensus in the fields of promoting bilateral trade, investment, research and development, science and technology, civil aviation, tourism, and culture. The two leaders also decided to strengthen the ties [provided by] the gateway of the historic silk road between East and West.

阿勒屯还表示，总统埃尔多安和中国国家主席习近平就推进双边贸易、投资、研发、科学技术、民航、旅游和文化领域达成共识，两位领导人还决定加强历史丝绸之路东西大门之间的纽带。”

CCTV’s main evening news broadcast “xinwen lianbo”, on July 2, quoted Xi Jinping as telling Erdogan that

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Practical measures must be taken to promote anti-terrorism cooperation. China appreciates Mr. President’s repeated reiterations not  to allow any forces to engage in anti-Chinese separatist activities from Turkey, and attaches great importance to Turkey’s emphasis on supporting China’s strikes against terrorism. [China] hopes to strengthen cooperation with Turkey in the field of counter-terrorism.

要采取切实行动，推进反恐安全合作。中方赞赏总统先生多次重申不允许任何势力在土耳其从事反华分裂活动，重视土方多次强调支持中方打击恐怖主义，愿同土方加强在国际反恐领域合作。

In summer 2009, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had reportedly referred to Beijing’s policies on Xinjiang as “a genocide. There’s no point in interpreting this otherwise”. Maybe he now sees a point in re-interpreting the situation.

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Updates / Related

“Abschied vom Westen”, Die Welt, July 12, 2019

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Tags: accountability, business, CCTV, China, East Turkestan, foreign investment, human rights, imperialism, national minorities, negotiations, one belt one road, Turkey, Xi Jinping, 一带一路