In the afternoon of January 15, 2003, Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese Vice President met with Chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Great Hall of the People.  

Hu Jintao extended a warm welcome to Chairman Erdogan for his first visit to China. He said that relations between China and Turkey can be traced back to ancient times. The two peoples began to conduct trade and cultural exchanges through the ancient "Silk Road" more than 2,000 years ago. Bilateral relations grew vigorously after the two countries established diplomatic relations more than three decades ago. In recent years in particular, there have been frequent exchanges of high-level visits. The two sides signed several documents guiding bilateral relations including a joint communiqué to the effect that a closer partnership should be formed in the new century. Cooperation in economic and trade field has gradually expanded and cooperation in other fields is also fruitful.

Hu said China appreciates the move of the new government of Turkey to include the development of relations with China into its government policy. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government pay great attention to its relations with Turkey and hope to strengthen its exchanges and cooperation with Turkey in a variety of areas and in different levels on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, so as to write down a new chapter of bilateral friendly relations in the new century.

The two sides also exchanged opinions on anti-terrorism issue. Hu said that China and Turkey share common concerns in fighting against terrorism, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintaining unity among different ethnic groups. He said that to strengthen cooperation in this regard serves the fundamental interests of both peoples, and helps maintain peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Erdogan thanked General Secretary Hu’s meeting and agreed with Hu’s appraisal of bilateral relations. He reiterated that Turkey will uphold the One China policy, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose terrorism in any form. He stressed that Turkey values its relations with China and believes bilateral cooperation in all fields will register greater progress.

Erdogan said that trade and economic cooperation between Turkey and China have grown rapidly, with which the two sides should not content.  He expressed his hope that relevant departments of the two countries should lose no time to implement the consensus already reached, and further the cooperation in infrastructure construction, culture and tourism. He also hoped that his current visit to China will help enhance the friendly exchanges between the ruling parties of Turkey and China.