Marmara Group Foundation organized a meeting with Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament themed Turkish-Chinese civil society cooperation. Many businessmen, civil society organization and media representatives showed an interest in the meeting.

President of Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament Han Qide, President of Marmara Group Foundation Dr. Akkan Suver, Vice President of People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament and Assistant Minister of International Department of China He Jun, Member of Executive Board of Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament Chen Yongchuan, Former Member of Parliament and Ambassador Ertuğrul Kumcuoğlu, Secretary General of Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament Zhu Rui, Prof. Dr. Sema Kalaycıoğlu, Prof. Dr. Akile Gürsoy and Prof. Dr. Atilla Dicle made speeches in the meeting.

In his speech, President of Marmara Group Foundation Dr. Akkan Suver told that:

“I would like to say that I am very happy to be here with Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament.

On behalf of Marmara Group Foundation, I would like to welcome Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament’s President and Directors to our country.

I wish, your visit to Turkey will enhance economy and idea of civil society and will improve our potential of cooperation.

As Marmara Group Foundation, we see China as opportunity.

As Marmara Group Foundation, we visited China twice.

We signed partnership agreements with China Foundation for Human Rights Development (Çin İnsan Haklarını Geliştirme Derneği) in April 2012 and with China Association for International Friendly Contact (Çin Uluslararası Dostane Temaslar Kurumu) in April 2013.

As Marmara Group Foundation, we believe Turkey has logistical advantages for China. Chinese investors could invest Turkey, which signed Customs Union Agreement with European Union and took advantages, and use Turkey as stepping stone to Europe. Recently Chinese stand out with their investments in mining and energy. We could draw these investments to our country. Chinese and Turks could make co-investments.

China is in the most eastern part of Asia, and Turkey is the most western part of Asia. We are two very important countries that will bring together the two sides of Asia. Bringing together Asia’s two sides is very important. To increase bilateral trade between China and Turkey to 50 billion dollars in 2015 and to 100 billion dollars in 2020 is the policy of the government of the Republic of Turkey. I would like to share this with you. Again, about the banking sector, Turkish banks to be more active in China are desired by our business world. Chinese banks to do more business in Turkey, to open more branches here and many Chinese banks to consider Turkey as a center is also among the values that our business world desires. Finally, I would like to say while taking your visit as an opportunity; with the Marmaray project and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project completing in 2015 in the Silk Way’s opening door to Europe, a new Silk Way made of iron will be formed in the field of transportation in 2015 when the railroad from Beijing to London will be in effect.

Distinguished guests, we can also open another door in Turkey-China relations with the cultural and social unions from people to people in the field of civil society.

We believe that. You all created an opportunity for that with your honoring arrival.

I believe that what are going to be discussed and said here today will open the door for new potentials. Welcome.”