ANKARA, Oct. 9, 2010 (Xinhua) --

China and Turkey have agreed to upgrade their bilateral ties to the level of a strategic relationship of cooperation during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's current visit to the Eurasian country.

Wen and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the announcement at a press conference following their meeting here on Friday.

Wen said he and Erdogan reached broad consensus during the talks, noting the decision to set up the strategic cooperative relationship would have an important effect on world peace and development.

China and Turkey both faced the threat of the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism and shared common interests in safeguarding the integrity of territory and sovereignty, Wen said.

He said China would continue to deepen mutual political trust and take active measures to promote trade with Turkey, whose influence in regional and international affairs China attached importance to.

China would encourage investment by Chinese enterprises in Turkey and facilitate cooperation in various economic fields, such as power projects, bridge construction and the financial sector, Wen said.

Erdogan said he had very successful talks with Wen and Turkey and China would take a new step in bilateral relations.

"China and Turkey have a long history of friendship. Our relations are now entering a new stage of development," Erdogan told reporters.

Turkey wanted closer cooperation with China in international organizations, Erdogan said.

In the economic field, the two countries agreed to increase their annual trade volume to 50 billion U.S. dollars by 2015 and 100 billion dollars by 2020, Erdogan said.

Trade volume between China and Turkey exceeded 10 billion dollars in 2009, according to official statistics.

He also said Turkey hoped the two countries could use their own currencies in bilateral trade.

China and Turkey signed eight pacts on cooperation in areas that included trade, railway construction, infrastructure, communications and cultural exchanges before the press conference.

Erdogan said Turkey planned to build 4,500 to 5,000 km of railways and wanted China's cooperation in those projects.

China had agreed to provide financial support for the railway projects when conditions were appropriate, he said.

Erdogan said Turkey also intended to build a railway connecting Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, and the Chinese capital, Beijing.

There were other multiple fields where Turkey and China could further cooperate, such as energy, air transport, culture and tourism, Erdogan said.

Wen said better cultural communication would also serve to improve China-Turkey ties, saying the two ancient civilizations should have more dialogue and exchanges.

China and Turkey also issued a joint declaration Friday on the establishment and development of a strategic relationship of cooperation.

The two emerging developing countries agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchange of visits, deepen political mutual trust, expand bilateral friendly exchanges and formally launch a mechanism of joint working group of the two foreign ministries, the declaration said.

Wen and Erdogan witnessed the signing ceremony of eight pacts to improve economic and cultural cooperation between China and Turkey.

The agreements, signed by officials from the two countries, covered such areas as trade, transport, infrastructure, communications and cultural exchanges.

Annual trade volume between China and Turkey exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2009.

Later in the day, Wen met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on bilateral relations.

Wen said China and Turkey have witnessed frequent high-level bilateral exchanges, steady growth of economic, trade and investment cooperation, and good cooperation in regional and international affairs since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The establishment of a strategic relationship of cooperation, which the two sides agreed upon Friday, is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the peoples and is beneficial to world peace and development, he said.

Wen said China is willing to work together with Turkey on the implementation of the important consensus and agreeements that the two sides have reached to turn a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Gul said Wen's successful visit to Turkey is sure to bring bilateral relations to a new level.

He reiterated Turkey's adherence to the one-China policy.

The Turkish president said that he saw great potential in the bilateral economic and trade cooperation and that Chinese enterprises are welcome to be involved in Turkish economic development.

Gul said mutual understanding between the two peoples is very important and he hoped that the two countries will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year with further expansion of bilateral cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation.

Wen arrived in Turkey Thursday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Erdogan.

A cultural event named "Experience China in Turkey" will be held in the Turkish capital, Ankara, and Istanbul after Wen's visit, which Wen said would enhance the Turkish people's understanding of China.

The establishment of a strategic relationship of cooperation, which the two sides agreed upon Friday, is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the peoples and is beneficial to world peace and development, he said.

Wen said China is willing to work together with Turkey on the implementation of the important consensus and agreeements that the two sides have reached to turn a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Gul said Wen's successful visit to Turkey is sure to bring bilateral relations to a new level.

He reiterated Turkey's adherence to the one-China policy.

The Turkish president said that he saw great potential in the bilateral economic and trade cooperation and that Chinese enterprises are welcome to be involved in Turkish economic development.

Gul said mutual understanding between the two peoples is very important and he hoped that the two countries will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year with further expansion of bilateral cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation.

Wen arrived in Turkey Thursday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Erdogan.

A cultural event named "Experience China in Turkey" will be held in the Turkish capital, Ankara, and Istanbul after Wen's visit, which Wen said would enhance the Turkish people's understanding of China.

Editor: An