A seminar held in Istanbul on Tuesday aimed to strengthen cultural and tourism ties between China’s northwestern Shaanxi province and Türkiye, resulting in key agreements with travel agencies from both sides signing partnerships to expand collaboration and tourist exchanges.
The event highlighted Shaanxi’s historical role as the “starting point of the Silk Road” and its status as the “home of the Terracotta Warriors,” emphasizing the province’s cultural and historical significance. In his opening speech, China’s Consul General in Istanbul, Wei Xiaodong, stressed the important role both China and Türkiye have played along the ancient Silk Road, a historic bridge between East and West.
The seminar highlighted that Shaanxi’s heritage would be showcased through folklore performances, tourism promotions, and other activities to deepen mutual understanding. Wei stated, “We hope this event will increase tourist visits, encourage resource sharing, and further strengthen friendly relations and concrete cooperation.”
Irfan Karslı, head of the Turkish-Chinese Cultural Association, which promotes Chinese language education in Türkiye, attended the seminar and pointed out the expanding bilateral relations. He noted that the rise in direct flights between the two countries was a key factor in boosting tourist traffic.