Joint Initiative between Chinese and Turkish NGO representatives on strengthening unity and cooperation and opposing politicization of COVID-19 pandemic

Liu Lu

W e， representatives of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Turkish friendship organizations， universities， think tanks and friendship cities of China and Turkey， held an online meeting under the theme of “Civilian strength enhances the win-win cooperation and common development of China and Turkey” on Aug 4， 2021. We had a candid， friendly and in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern and agreed to issue an initiative as outlined below.

We all agree that COVID-19 is a common enemy of mankind that has posed a severe threat to the lives and health of humans. Mankind lives in a community with a shared future， and only by strengthening solidarity and cooperation and responding to the challenge scientifically and responsibly can the international community defeat the pandemic at an early date and restore production and life order of the people of all countries. We highly appreciate the joint research on the origins of COVID-19 virus pioneered by China and the WHO， which has produced objective， scientific and authoritative results.

We appeal to the international community to respect the joint research report， to take a scientific， professional and objective approach to the issue， to stand together and work with solidarity and to support scientists in their research of origin-tracing of the virus all over the world without exception and free of political coercion， so as to find the true origin of the virus and benefit mankind. We firmly oppose politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic and origin tracing of the virus， and resolutely object to vaccine racism.

We appreciate Chinas peoplecentered anti-pandemic philosophy of putting life first and respecting science， as well as Chinas successful practice in combating COVID-19. We highly appreciate the generous assistance and support that China has provided to countries in need， especially Turkey， including detection kits and vaccines， and Chinas deeds in sharing its experience in fighting the pandemic without asking for compensation.

We appreciate that the governments and peoples of China and Turkey have always understood and supported each other， worked in unity and helped each other， jointly protected peopleslives and health when facing the challenge of COVID-19 and firmly safeguarded the equity and justice of the world， which set an example for the international community.

We share the view that exchanges， mutual learning and common prosperity between Chinese and Turkish civilizations are conducive to world peace and common development. Taking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Turkey as a starting point， friendship organizations， local governments and think tanks should play an active role to strengthen dialogues between civilizations， deepen mutually beneficial cooperation， work together for further progress of China-Turkey strategic partnership， to better benefit the two countries and the two peoples and make new and greater contributions to peace and development of mankind.

We all believe that the Belt and Road Initiative is of great significance in promoting win-win cooperation for the common development of China and Turkey， as well as for the whole world. We are ready to see to it that the Belt and Road Initiative and the Middle Corridor plan complement each other. We will work together to promote friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between various social sectors such as subnational governments， friendship cities， think tanks， media， tourism and youth， so as to play a bigger role in strengthening peopleto-people bonds and achieving common development.

All Participants

Aug 4， 2021

List of Participating Organizations：

Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries，

Chinese embassy in Turkey，

Chinese local friendship associations and friendship cities of Turkey

Center for Turkish Studies at Shanghai University，

Turkish Studies Consortium；

Turkish embassy in China，

Turkey-China Friendship Association，

Turkish-Chinese Womens Friendship and Cultural Association， The Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation， Union of Municipalities of Turkey

Foundation for Political， Economic and Social Research

Turkish Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association

Turkish local governments that have friendship city or province relations with China