Turkey’s Department of Religious Affairs and China’s Islamic Association signed a cooperation protocol on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed by Turkey’s Religious Affairs Head Mehmet Gormez and Chen Guangyuan, the head of China’s Islamic Association. “The protocols that have been signed will open new pages in religious and cultural relations of the two countries. The level of Turkish-Chinese diplomatic relations is pleasing. Relations between religious authorities will boost fraternity feelings,” Gormez said.
Chen Guangyuan said the protocols signed on Tuesday and Wednesday between Turkey and China were the start of a new period that have a strong basis, and underlined that Turkey assumed a very big role in Islam civilization as it happened in the past.
Under the protocol, the two parties decided to organize Chinese Islam Culture Fair in Istanbul in 2012 and a Turkish Islamic Culture Fair in Beijing in 2013.
There will be painting exhibition, religious publishing fairs and art activities in the fairs which will take place in June or July and will last for 15 days.
As part of his visit to China, Gormez who met China’s Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu is expected to visit the Muslim community living in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Gormez met with Wang Zuoan, director of State Administration for Religious Affairs of China on Tuesday and signed a cooperation protocol 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.
Gormez is scheduled to depart from China on Friday.
Source: World Bulletin
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