UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister visits Chinese cities of Urumqi, Kashgar

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ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday visited Urumqi, the capital of China’s northwestern Xinjiang province.

Fidan visited the Yanghang Mosque and International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.

Xinjiang is home to the ethnic Uyghur people, who are mostly Muslims.

Later, Fidan visited the Mausoleum of Yusuf Khass Hajib and the Id Kah Mosque in the city of Kashgar.

The tour of Xinjiang is part of a three-day official trip to China by Fidan and his delegation.

Addressing a news conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday, Fidan noted the importance of Kashgar and Urumqi, emphasizing their role in the Sino-Turkish and Sino-Islamic world.

He said that Kashgar and Urumqi are two ancient Turkic Islamic cities that contribute to China's cultural richness.

Speaking to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Fidan stressed the importance of changing global perceptions of the cultural rights and lives of China's Uyghur Turks.

He said this shift would benefit China, Türkiye, and the broader international community.

On the Uyghur issue, Fidan advocated considering it as a matter of cultural richness without the need for any problems.

"What we always say is this: We support China's one-China policy, its territorial integrity, and its sovereignty,” Fidan said.

The Turkish foreign minister also met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

Fidan's visit to the Xinjiang province is the highest-level visit from Türkiye since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was then prime minister, visited the region in April 2012.

In recent times, Türkiye has taken steps to strengthen its relations with all regions of China.

In this context, Ankara reinforced its diplomatic presence in China by opening the Chengdu Consulate General last year, in addition to its embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

As Fidan concluded his first trip to China as foreign minister, he said his discussions with state officials in Beijing and Xinjiang were "constructive, sincere and in-depth."