The Turkish nation and the People's Republic of China have a relationship with a deep-rooted history. Our diplomatic relations, which began in 1971, have been rapidly developing since their establishment. In reality, the Turkish people and the Chinese people are friends. The roots of Central Asian states ultimately depend on Turkish culture, Turkish civilization, and Turkish history. Therefore, our friendship is historical.
Another important measure of this historical friendship is the Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall of China is truly a masterpiece of humanity. It is one of the greatest monuments created by humankind. The engineering that brought it about under the conditions of that time is a sign of a great civilization.
Of course, these walls arose from the need for protection. Now, at the Great Wall of China, a new world order is emerging where nations and people will not doubt or worry about each other.
The People's Republic of China is in the process of creating a geography where people can resolve their disputes peacefully, help each other, cooperate, and live together through the Belt and Road Initiative.
As the Marmara Group Foundation, we characterize this project of the People's Republic of China as a safer world, a more prosperous humanity, a more affluent order, and a cleaner, environmentally friendly life.
The event we call the Great Wall of China, together with the Belt and Road Initiative, inspires us today.
As the Marmara Group Foundation, we desire that people cooperate with each other in any way possible. Whether or not people share a common history, and regardless of whether they come from different cultures, we value and praise their cooperation. With these thoughts, we regard the approach of the People's Republic of China as a peace and stability project.
Dr. Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Foundation, has always sincerely defended the Belt and Road Initiative at national and international meetings and continues to do so.
Indeed, as the Marmara Group Foundation, we evaluate the historic Silk Road Project (Belt and Road Initiative) as a unity of peace, stability, and mutual benefit.
The importance of this peace project has gained additional significance with the emergence of our need for globalization during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic could only be resolved through global cooperation. And it was resolved in that way. Considering that vaccines developed in China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Turkey were distributed not only to their own countries but to all corners of the world, the importance of global behavior becomes self-evident. This shows us that we can only cope with global problems if we fight together and increase policy communication.
In this respect, we hope that this catastrophic experience will provide very important clues and solutions regarding measures and adaptation on the path to living together in peace and achieving shared prosperity, and will ensure the prompt implementation of the Belt and Road initiative, in which we are also involved.
As the Marmara Group Foundation, we participated in international conferences organized in 2021 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the People's Republic of China. We brought the importance of this significant friendship to the agenda. Also, in 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, we took part in events in Turkey that presented and explained China's developments from past to present and authored articles.
On the occasion of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in our congratulatory message sent to the President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, we evaluated it as a signature marking the beginning of a new era not only for China as a winter sports country but also for winter sports themselves.
Meanwhile, the Marmara Group Foundation organizes events together with the China Human Rights Development Association, the China International Friendship Contact Council, and the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament from the People's Republic of China.
Especially in 2024, we participated as the Marmara Group Foundation in various events organized at different times by the CPIFA, CPAFFC, and CPAPD organizations and have endeavored to maintain our relations at an increasing pace.
Belt and Road Initiative
Another important vision we have put forward as the Marmara Group Foundation is our ownership of the "Belt and Road Initiative" emerging in the Eurasian region. Since the Eurasian region is home to diverse communities and cultures living together, the progress we have made on the path we started eleven years ago to carry out "joint projects and contribute to the development of common feelings and thoughts" is very important today. Although the main goal of the economic corridor to be built appears to be economic integration, we believe that when the Belt and Road Initiative is realized, it will greatly and exceptionally benefit peace, stability, tranquility, and coexistence.
Yes, the Belt and Road Initiative is essentially a philosophy.
It would be incomplete to evaluate it solely in terms of economy, finance, money, or profit. Because the Belt and Road Initiative is a dialogue and peace environment where cultures, languages, and religions will better understand each other. It is a structure that facilitates understanding among societies.
Of course, countries reached by land and sea routes and their people will be able to know and understand each other better. But most importantly, as a social responsibility initiative, especially during and after the pandemic, it has become evident that the Belt and Road Initiative is a project of stability, sustainable peace, and cooperation.
Therefore, the world needs globalization more than ever, and countries must come closer to each other and support each other more than ever. Life forces us to live together.
Let us not forget that the export route called the Economic Belt in the Belt and Road Initiative awaits our exporters to host opportunities in a geography formed by 3 billion people.
The Belt and Road Academy has accepted Dr. Akkan Suver from Turkey as a member and has hosted him as a speaker at three international Belt and Road meetings.