Turkish, Chinese businessmen sign agreements worth $4.3 bln

ISTANBUL (A.A) - February 22, 2012 - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that Turkish and Chinese businesspeople signed economy and trade agreements worth 4.3 billion U.S. dollars. Chinese Vice President Xi participated in the meeting of Turkey-China Economic and Commercial Cooperation Forum in Istanbul.  There have been deep rooted ties between Turkey and China, Xi said. "Turkey has become one of the most attracting countries in the world," he said. There has been a remarkable increase in trade volume between the two countries, Chinese vice president said. Xi said China attached a great interest to Turkey's chemical raw materials and agriculture products such as hazelnut. Chinese companies undersigned agreements exceeding 10 billion U.S. dollars in regard to the contracting services in Turkey, he said.  Turkey and China should strengthen their strategic cooperation, he said. "We are visiting Turkey with more than 100 investment delegations from China. Our businessmen signed agreements worth nearly 4.3 billion U.S. dollars with Turkish businessmen," he said. The Year of Turkey would be held in China this year and next year Turkey would host the Year of China, he said and adding that they hoped that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would pay a visit to China.