TIANJIN: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Tianjin, China, on Sunday to participate in the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council as a guest of honour.
He was received at Beijing International Airport by Chinese State Minister Ley Haycao, Turkish Ambassador to Beijing Selcuk Unal, and embassy staff. Erdogan is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for participating leaders as part of the SCO summit.
According to Türkiye’s Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran, President Erdogan will address the expanded summit session on Monday. His visit, running from August 31 to September 1, is his first trip to China in five years and comes amid strengthening strategic ties between Ankara and Beijing.
During the summit, Erdogan is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Xi and other attending leaders. He is accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, MIT Director Ibrahim Kalin, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, and Defence Minister Yasar Guler.
Other members of the delegation include Industry Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Trade Minister Omer Bolat, AK Party Deputy Chairman Halit Yerebakan, MHP Deputy Chairman Ismail Faruk Aksu, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Defence Industries President Haluk Gorgun, and Presidential Private Secretary Hasan Dogan.
