China and Turkey agree to cooperate on nuclear energy projects

Both countries end 27 years of indifference to forge deals on nuclear energy and other investments.

The nuclear energy and investment agreements were signed this week during an official visit to China by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit is the first visit to China by a Turkish prime minister in 27 years.

Both leaders attended a signing ceremony for six agreements that included nuclear energy cooperation and a declaration of intent for completing negotiations on promoting and protecting investment between the two countries.

The Agreement on Cooperation for the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes and a letter of intent on the bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy were signed by Erdogan and Wen in Beijing.

Turkey wants to have three nuclear power plants functioning by 2023, the centennial of the country’s foundation. The government has an agreement with Russia to build one of those plants in Akkuyu, a district in the southern province of Mersin.

China is among the candidates vying to build Turkey's second nuclear power plant.

Premier Wen Jiabao told Erdogan that China attaches great importance to Turkey’s influence both regionally and globally.