An Analysis Of The Cooperation Development Between China And Turkey Under The Initiative Of "One Belt, One Road"

From past to present, there have been many projects to restore the ancient Silk Road that has been an important network in economy and transportation for centuries. By this time- "New Silk Road" stayed like "a dream". But in 2013, New Silk Road attempt that starts with the slogan of the president of China, Xi Jinping "One Belt, One Road" in Kazakhstan and became one of the most important foreign politics of Beijing. As the project was expected to be a connection point between Europe and Asia, it was a strategy that has multiple advantages in foreign politics. The Project, which is a versatile strategy with its political, economic and cultural gains. By means of this Project, Beijing aims at being a more effective power in areas where it previously wasn’t.The main purpose of this study is to search the main steps of the New Silk Road Economic Belt initiative suggested by China in 2013. Besides, in this context explain cooperation development between China and Turkey. China’s recent efforts to revive the ancient Silk Road, which enabled the transfer of languages, religions, civilizations and goods between the East and the West, are remarkable. Global and possible future reactions to this initiative Beijing has designed by putting itself in the center are also included in the study. For this reason, viewpoints of several countries, especially Turkey, to the project were evaluated in detail, too.The role of Turkey in China’s New Silk Road initiative will become one of the key countries after putting the Ancient Silk Road project in to practice, within the coverage of the project has been analyzed in-depth. Traditionally, Turkey is one of the countries which support China’s the most in terms of in the New Silk Road Initiative and is willing to participate. Geopolitical position of Turkey which connects the East to the West increases the interest of China on Turkey. Therefore, it is seen that there has been a strong "Silk Road Diplomacy" between Turkey and China recently. Turkey will strengthen the role of being a transit country that connects the East to West. Before mentioned road was more secure than other options and the low cost of China’s increasing importance to Turkey.It has been thought that one of the centers of the Ancient Silk Road, Turkey, is going to be an important agent in the new project of China. Turkey which becomes a key country to complete the project is one of the countries that supports and willing to join in Beijing the most. Thus, Turkey which has the wish to rally the aisle between East and West will be able to reach to the South Asia market easily. At this point Turkey’s most essential gain is to become a bridge between East and West with a more advanced "One Belt One Road" initiative. Eventually, it is possible for Turkey to obtain gains from investing activities, foreign economics and energy.A reason for Turkey to look at the Silk Road projects, especially "One Belt, One Road" initiative is the desire to strengthen the economic and commercial relations with the countries that are in the zone. Turkey will also strengthen its geostrategic position as staying in the middle of the connections of energy, industry, and agricultural product trade. Thus, it is accepted by Turkey to be in the middle of the rail transportation corridor between Asia and Europe. Besides, Turkey thinks that it will form a tangible basis with China on the mutual relations with freight and passenger railway lines, and national currencies that will take place through the trade and economic relations can be purified from the global negative influences.The Silk Road project is the first objective of the strengthening of the regional transport infrastructure and logistics. In this context, the "Iron Silk Road" initiative, China with countries in the region and Turkey mutual relations to highest level are expected to form the backbone of a multi-dimensional cooperation. Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with China’s Xian City, starting from and through Turkey and Central Asian countries will reach to Europe is intended to be a railway line started operation. To create a kind of ’Eurasian bridge’ railway line run and total size of the substance of the one trillion dollar rising above the low tariffs in excess of a market to be created is expected to prepare the ground.This study consists of four chapters. The first chapter is introduction chapter.In this chapter will be explained thesis objectives, significance, limitation and research question also will be examined conceptual framework and methodology in this chapter.The second chapter starts with; Silk Road’s historical memory, the routes of historical Silk Road and China’s Current Routes used to connect to Europe and the new Silk Road. Besides, continues with role of Turkey in "One Belt, One Road" initiative. In second chapter discuss on China’s attempts to revive the historical Silk Road, consist of possible routes for New Silk Road, finance of the initiative of "One Belt, One Road", forming the initiative and will be ended with Turkey’s role in the initiative of New Silk Road.In the third chapter; the significance of "One Belt, One Road" initiative for Turkey and Turkey’s attitude towards China’s "One Belt, One Road" initiative will be examined. In this part of study; the significance of "One Belt, One Road" initiative is going to be studied in the context of bilateral history, geopolitics and economically. Besides; official reaction from Turkish side, business and academic circles responses will be explained.In the last chapter of this thesis will discuss on opportunities and challenges in the cooperation between China and Turkey relations for "One Belt One Road" Initiative.The hardships and the problems for the initiative that might be caused by lack of cooperation between China and Turkey are going to be studied. These problems will be reviewed in the political and economic context. Besides, different expectation in China-Turkey relation will be examined and the influence of other powers will be studied. Perspectives on the solutions regarding the problems will be presented.Besides, in a similar way, earnings and the opportunities that can be gained between two countries thanks to initiative will be reviewed. The initiative effects on multilateral cooperation, economic cooperation and cultural cooperation will be reviewed. After bilateral relations up to the level of strategic partnership, in the light of initiative; in economy, energy and geopolitics area possible effects are going to be studied.After these three chapters; all thesis will be considered and conclusion part will be presented.