The key facts

  • The Türkiye-China Green Development Business Forum was held in Istanbul with the participation of the vice presidents of both countries
  • Green technologies, HIT-30, the Middle Corridor and trade balancing were discussed
  • The parties agreed to hold the fourth business conference in Beijing in the first half of 2027

The forum in Istanbul and its participants

A Turkish-Chinese business forum on green development (Türkiye-China Green Development Business Forum) was held in Istanbul, organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). According to Anadolu, the event was attended by Vice President of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz and Vice President of China Han Zheng, as well as Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, CECEP Chairman Liao Jiasheng and CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin.

Green technologies and trade balance

DEIK President Nail Olpak stated that China is a leader in green technologies, and that Türkiye, thanks to its proximity to Europe and the Customs Union, could become a manufacturing and export hub for these technologies. According to him, both countries should use these advantages as complementary assets amid shifting global competition. He emphasized that a more balanced trade turnover with China is important for the sustainability of relations, and linked this goal to Chinese high-tech investments, the HIT-30 incentive program and the Istanbul Financial Center.

The Middle Corridor and cooperation plans

Touching on the Belt and Road initiative and the Middle Corridor, Olpak noted that the Turkish side seeks to actively participate in loading return (empty) containers on the route. DEIK also plans to bring together Turkish and international business within the COP31 process — from clean energy and sustainable infrastructure to artificial intelligence. Chairman of DEIK's Turkish-Chinese Business Council Aydın Mıştaoğlu named turning potential into concrete projects as a priority and listed possible areas of joint work: renewable energy, energy storage, electromobility and low-carbon industry. He announced plans to launch, with CCPIT support, a Turkish-Chinese center for technology and innovation as a permanent platform for technology exchange, joint R&D and investment cooperation, and said it was agreed to hold the fourth Turkish-Chinese business conference in Beijing in the first half of 2027. The forum concluded with panel discussions on green energy supply chains and the Middle Corridor trade balance, followed by business-to-business meetings.