Turkey, China sign cooperation protocol on religious affairs

Gormez said China had a unique place in the history of Islam, as Islam had a special place in China’s history.

Turkey and China have signed a protocol envisaging cooperation in religious affairs.

Mehmet Gormez, head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Authority, met Wang Zuoan, director of State Administration for Religious Affairs of China, in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, a cooperation protocol was signed between Turkey and China on religious education, services and publications.

As part of the protocol, Muslims living in China will be able to study at vocational religious high schools and theology faculties in Turkey, moreover, they will be able to participate in Master’s and PhD programs offered by Turkish universities.

Thanks to the protocol, nearly 50,000 imams from China will have the chance to receive professional training in Turkey, besides, the Koran and numerous Islamic books will be translated to Chinese, fairs will be organized in both countries, Chinese Muslims will be assisted during their Hajj and Umrah journeys, and mosques in China will be renovated.

Commenting on the cooperation, Gormez said China had a unique place in the history of Islam, as Islam had a special place in China’s history.

Pointing to the improving political and economic ties between Turkey and China, Gormez said such improvement should be strengthened with cultural relations, noting that today’s cooperation protocol was an important step towards such goal.

As part of his visit to China, Gormez is expected to meet China’s Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu on Wednesday, and later visit the Muslim community living in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Gormez is scheduled to depart from China on Friday.

AA