Turkish President Erdogan Mentions 'Uyghurs' in Call with Xi Jinping: "Treatment of Uyghur Muslims is Important"

"Must Live as Equal Chinese Citizens," Criticism Spreads Mainly Among Turkish Opposition, Apparently Aware

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an reportedly mentioned the issue of the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur region during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that they should be treated as equal Chinese citizens. Turkey, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation with China, had previously avoided mentioning the Uyghur issue. However, facing criticism mainly from the Turkish opposition that the Uyghur people, who share the same Turkic Muslim heritage, should not be ignored, it is interpreted that Turkey became conscious of this during the call.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 13th (local time), President Erdo?an held a phone call with President Xi, discussing economic cooperation between the two countries and various regional issues. The Turkish presidential office stated in a press release that "President Erdo?an emphasized the importance for Turkey that the Uyghur Turks live as equal citizens of China in prosperity and peace," adding, "However, Turkey respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Turkey had avoided mentioning the sensitive Uyghur issue in China to strengthen economic cooperation with China, but as criticism grew mainly from the Turkish opposition that the ethnically related Uyghur people should not be ignored, it is interpreted that Erdo?an unusually addressed the Uyghur issue directly during the call with President Xi. The Uyghurs are known to be part of the Turkic ethnic group, which is the main ethnic group in Turkey, and it is reported that about 40,000 Uyghur-origin residents live in Turkey.

According to major foreign media, opposition figures in Turkey accuse the government of prioritizing other interests with China and overlooking the rights of Uyghur residents, but the government reportedly denies such allegations.

However, there are also remarks that the Turkish government still focuses more on strengthening economic cooperation with China than on the Uyghur issue. On the same day, President Erdo?an told President Xi that "there is great potential in commercial and diplomatic relations between Turkey and China." Although the Uyghur issue was mentioned during the call, the two leaders mainly discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation in areas such as energy, trade, transportation, and health.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.