Turkey, China strike nuclear energy agreement on sidelines of G-20 summit

HANGZHOU – Anadolu Agency

Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sign a nuclear cooperation deal. AA photo

Turkey and China signed three agreements covering nuclear security, energy and agricultural health certification on Sept. 3 during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit ahead of the G-20 summit in the coastal Chinese city of Hangzhou.      

The Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) and National Nuclear Safety Administration of China undersigned a regulation on “Cooperaiton in Nuclear Safety” deal. 

Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the agreement Russia is building Turkey's first nuclear plant in the south of the country, as a Japanese-French consortium has won the tender to build a second one in the north. 

China is among countries interested in building a third plant. 

Albayrak signed another deal on cooperation on renewable enegry and coal. 

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister also signed a deal on pistachio plants.  

Erdoğan and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held talks and presided over meetings between delegates from the two countries.      

Erdoğan expressed hopes that Turkish-Chinese relations would be strengthened.      

China is Turkey's third trade partner worldwide after Germany and  Russia, and its first trade partner in the Far East, according to Ankara's Foreign Ministry.      

Erdoğan arrived in Hangzhou on Sept. 3 for the 2016 G-20 summit, set to be held on Sept. 4 through Sept. 5.      

On the sidelines of the gathering, he is expected to hold meetings  with Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President Barack Obama.