Turkey remains committed to becoming a full member of the Brics bloc, positioning itself as a bridge between Asia and Europe despite widening transatlantic rifts, according to the new Turkish ambassador to China.
Ankara, meanwhile, would continue to work with Beijing to deepen trade ties, promote high-level visits, expand cultural and academic exchanges and build political trust through dialogue on security, counterterrorism and other sensitive issues, the envoy told.
In an interview during his first trip to Hong Kong, Selcuk Unal described the Brics grouping and its members as “rising economies” playing an increasingly important role across the world.
“That’s why we would really like to become a member one day,” Unal said, adding that the decision ultimately depended on the Brics members.
Turkey, a Nato member, officially applied for full Brics membership in 2024. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had repeatedly expressed interest in joining the group, said Turkey could become prosperous and respected if it “simultaneously develops relations with the East and West”.
Ankara was instead offered “partner country” status in 2024 amid reported concerns about how Turkey’s Nato membership would align with Brics, which sees itself as a counterweight to the Western-led global order.
Founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, the bloc later expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. If admitted, Turkey would become the first member of the transatlantic security alliance to join Brics.
Turkey, which boasts the second-largest army in Nato after the United States, has long leveraged its geography and diplomacy to balance regional affairs.
According to Unal, Beijing and Ankara are also working to strengthen dialogue on security and counterterrorism, a priority established during Erdogan’s meeting with Xi on August 31.
Describing the two countries as “important members” of the Global South, Xi urged Erdogan to strengthen multilateral coordination, offer support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, and “enhance counterterrorism and security cooperation”.
During a rare visit to Xinjiang in 2024, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan was quoted as saying that Ankara did not allow activities within its borders that endangered China’s security and territorial integrity, nor did it support or take part in anti-China activities using ethnic issues.
“Everything goes through dialogue. We understand the sensitivities of our Chinese friends, and we continue our dialogue with them,” he said.
“Of course, this issue is also two-way. We also have our sensitivities as well,” he added, without elaborating.
Unal said both sides were planning several high-level visits this year. He added that he hoped Xi would visit Turkey again, noting there was “an open invitation” for the Chinese leader from Erdogan. Xi last visited the country in 2015.
He added that Turkey continued to welcome increased Chinese investment across a broad range of sectors such as transport, agriculture, technology, finance and energy.
China is Turkey’s third-largest trading partner globally and its largest in Asia, with annual trade nearing US$50 billion.
Unal acknowledged the persistent trade deficit was “always a big issue”, citing frequent ministerial-level exchanges to seek Chinese investment and promote trade “in a more fair and equitable manner”.
However, he rejected the suggestion that Turkey was too economically dependent on China.
Unal called on Beijing to ease visa requirements for Turkish travellers. Ankara implemented a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens in January.
“We have always asked countries with which we value relations to ease visa issues for our citizens – merchants, tradesmen, businessmen, students, scholars. China is one of them,” he said.
“We have been in talks with Chinese authorities to facilitate visas for Turkish citizens doing business here. Our dialogue will continue.”
He stressed that Turkey’s unique geography made it a key gateway to markets beyond its borders.
“We have free-trade agreements with several countries. Chinese companies investing in Turkey would be well positioned to expand their trade with countries in adjacent regions.”
Turkey has played a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, serving as a hub for the land and sea routes connecting China’s western regions with European markets. Cooperation between Beijing and Ankara also extends to the Middle Corridor, a Turkish-led trans-regional infrastructure project that aims to connect Central Asia and the Caucasus with Europe.
While touting his country’s growing power, greater connectivity and status as an emerging industrial production centre, the diplomat rejected the idea that Turkey harboured ambitions to rise as a unique Eurasian power.
“We have been working as a connecting power between East and West for decades. This is not a new thing, but it’s not an ambition. I think maybe we have to correct that narrative,” he said. “It’s our sincere wish to contribute more to world peace, stability and the global economy.”
There are now around 1,200 Turkish students studying in China – a number Unal said was good but “not that sizeable”. He added that he intended to increase the figure with more exchange programmes.
China has roughly 12 Turkish and Turkish literature departments across its universities, while Turkey is home to four Confucius Institutes, according to the ambassador.
“In every bilateral relationship, [people-to-people exchanges are] the most important part so that you can talk and know each other’s language, culture, history, tourism and more. That will make the relationship richer,” he said.
South China Morning Post
