China Today Launched Turkish Edition

China Today Turkish, the first Turkish language periodical about China was unveiled on September 23 in the country that straddles Europe and Asia.

The launching ceremony of China Today's Turkish Edition, Ankara, September 23.

A launching ceremony was held on September 23 local time in Ankara, attended by the Chinese ambassador to Turkey, Turkish government officials, a Chinese delegation composed of members of China International Publishing Group(CIPG), the owner of China Today, officials of the General Administration of Press and Publication and the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Along with Mr. Cemil Çiçek, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr Nhat Ergun, Turkish Minister of Industry and Trade and Mr. Ertuğrul Gunay, Minister of Culture and Tourism all sent congratulatory messages for the event. CIPG President Zhou Mingwei, Chinese Ambassador Gong Xiaosheng , Mr. Cemalettin Damlaci, Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of Turkey, Mr. Sadi Zengin, Executive Chief Officer of Dijitek Group, the publisher of China Today Turkey, delivered speeches at the ceremony. In the audience of 150 were prominent figures from the artistic, literary, business, educational, and media circles of Turkey. This also included the president of the local Confucius School.

President Zhou Mingwei of China International Group said that despite the economic strides in the China-Turkey relationship, there had been a lack of cultural and information exchanges. The exchange level between these two countries is far too low to bring about strong and smooth cooperation. This created the need for a Turkish language periodical on China-Turkey relationship published and distributed in Turkey. In this sense China Today Turkish is believed to effectively promote the mutual understanding of Chinese and Turkish people. It also opens a new channel of information for friendly exchanges between the two nations.

Deputy Undersecretary Cemalettin Damlaci said in his speech that business people in Turkey yearned for more knowledge about China. China Today Turkish will supply them with direct and objective information about all aspects of the rising economic power. The Turkish government also hopes that the exchanges and cooperation between the media of the two nations will give Chinese people more exposure to Turkey, stimulating the information flow between China and Turkey.

Chinese Ambassador to Turkey Gong Xiaosheng believed the foundation of China Today Turkish meets the demand for closer cultural and information exchanges between the two countries as well as proves that there is a healthy and strongly growing relationship between them. He hopes that the magazine will serve as a “Silk Road” of information connecting China and Turkey in modern times.

Eighteen Turkish media and Chinese journalists of Xinhua, China Radio International and Guangming Daily covered the launching ceremony. CIPG President Zhou Mingwei and China Today President Gong Xixiang had interviews with CNN Turkey and Xinhua after the event.

China Today President Gong Xixiang is receiving an interview with CNN Turkey.

During meetings with Mr. Zhou and Mr. Gong before the launching ceremony, the Industry and Trade Minister Nhat Ergun and the Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay both acknowledged the significance of China Today Turkish in bringing the two nations and people closer. Mr. Ergun wrote a piece for the first issue of the magazine, saying its publication in Turkey would help deepen the mutual understanding between industrial and commercial sectors of the two countries. He hopes the magazine will fill the information gap between Chinese and Turkish people. Mr. Gunay pledged support for China Today Turkish. He said there are many ceramic items from China in the collection of Turkish emperors, which serves as proof of significant exchanges between the two countries in ancient times. He is glad to play a part in the development of the friendship between China and Turkey.

The CIPG delegation has a meeting with Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay.

China Today Turkish, the sixth edition of China Today, is published under the partnership between CIPG and the Ankara-based Dijiteck Group. Up to 70 percent of the articles are from the English editions of China Today, Beijing Review and China Pictorial, which are all run by China International Publish Group. The rest is supplied by Dijiteck’s editing team in Turkey. The monthly magazine is retailed in bookstores and newsstands in all major cities in Turkey.