To help commemorate forty years of diplomatic relations between China and Turkey, both governments announced a high level, large scale Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey 2012 to be followed by the Turkish Culture Year in China in 2013 at a press conference on Wednesday at the Ministry of Culture in Beijing.

China and Turkey have a long history of commercial and cultural exchanges. As early as one thousand years ago the two were connected by the ancient Silk Road. The earliest recorded reference to “Turks” is found in ancient Chinese writings. The two culture years are meant to reaffirm this longstanding relationship and cement friendly ties by high level cultural exchanges aimed at the general public in both countries.

The theme of the Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey will be “Charming China, Home of the Silk Road”. Activities will showcase colorful contemporary Chinese culture and modern China after the reform and opening-up. The Year will be the largest comprehensive cultural exchange in the Middle East region ever held by China

The first activities will take place in Ankara, the Turkish capital, next month in mid-December. In its opening Silk Road phase, Turkish audiences will experience the diversity and richness of activities such as Beijing opera, acrobatics, and the Shenzhen Symphony.

The historic Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, former home of the Ottoman sultans and now a museum which houses the largest collection of Chinese porcelain outside of China will play host to hundred of Chinese antiques. The highlight will be the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This will mark the first time that these priceless national treasures have traveled to this region. In their other travels outside of China, they have met with huge and enthusiastic audiences and the reaction in Turkey promises to be no different.

In all, more than 70 projects involving literature, art, cultural heritage, media, cinema, tourism and pairing sister cities will be undertaken during the Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey. Activities are not only scheduled for Ankara and Istanbul but also in Antalya, Bursa, Izmir, Mercin, Trabzon and other major Turkish cities.

In addition to cultural events, China-related travel and commercial information will be available to the Turkish public. To celebrate the two cultural years, each country will be issuing special commemorative postage stamps.

According to Bengu Yigitguden, First Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Beijing: “Activities and cooperation in the field of culture are the most important means to better know and understand each other, for the people and for the countries. Enhancement of cultural relations effectively serves to strengthen and diversify cooperation in all fields. This also reflects positively on foreign policy, trade, tourism, and economics.”

Observers predict that these two cultural years will further strengthen bilateral cultural exchanges and cooperation, as well as deepen mutual understanding and traditional friendship between China and Turkey. They will play an important part in consolidating the strategic cooperation between the two countries and their people.

The Year of Chinese Culture in Turkey 2012 and the Year of Turkish Culture in China 2013 are being promoted by top leaders in both countries. They will be held and led by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The China Arts and Entertainment Group will serve as the overall host.