The key facts

  • The forum in Istanbul on November 9 will take place during the visit of Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and coincides with the start of COP31 in Antalya
  • Bilateral trade turnover grew from $35.9 billion in 2021 to more than $52 billion
  • Chinese tourist arrivals in Turkey reached a record 435,309 trips in the first nine months of 2026 after the visa requirement was lifted in January

Business forum held against the backdrop of a climate conference

Turkey and China will hold a Turkish-Chinese business forum on green development in Istanbul on November 9 — during the visit of Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who is accompanied by a delegation of executives from Chinese companies in tourism, infrastructure, energy, technology and finance. The event is timed to the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Anadolu reports.

Organizers and program

The forum is organized by the Turkey-China Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. On the Turkish side, participation is expected from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Trade Minister Ömer Bolat. The event aims to expand investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in green transformation. Panels with the participation of public and private entities will discuss environmental technologies, recycling, smart manufacturing, electric vehicles, petrochemicals, logistics, finance and tourism. The forum coincides with the start of the 31st UN climate conference (COP31), which will take place on November 9–20 in the Turkish province of Antalya.

Trade: growing turnover and a deficit for Ankara

Economic ties between the two countries have been expanding in recent years: bilateral trade turnover grew from $35.9 billion in 2021 to $44.6 billion in 2022 and $48.4 billion in 2023. At the same time, Turkish exports to China remain significantly lower than imports: after $3.6 billion in 2021, they declined, and in 2025 amounted to $3.27 billion; however, in the first nine months of 2026 they reached $3.394 billion — more than in any of the four preceding full years. Total turnover for January–September was $44.7 billion. Ankara seeks to reduce its persistent trade deficit with Beijing by increasing exports. Turkey's main supplies to China are metal ores, slag and ash, while Chinese imports consist mainly of electrical equipment, sound-reproducing equipment, televisions and related devices.

Tourism: a record after the visa waiver

Tourist flows are also growing: in the first nine months of 2026, a record 435,309 Chinese citizens visited Turkey — after a visa-free regime for Chinese tourists was introduced in January. For comparison: arrivals stood at 77,142 in 2010 and 426,344 in 2019, then fell to 33,641 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and by 2024 had recovered to 409,733. The 2025 record (425,348 trips) was surpassed within just nine months of the current year.