EİB and ICBC Give Strong Backing to Trade and Finance Cooperation with China

At a "Connecting Markets, Creating Opportunities Trade and Financial Cooperation Meeting" hosted by Aegean Exporters Unions (EİB) and organized in partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), discussions addressed developing trade volume between Turkey and China, exporters' access to financing, trade in local currencies, and new cooperation opportunities.

Speaking at the meeting, Aegean Exporters Unions Coordinating Chairman Muhammet Öztürk noted that EİB reached USD 18.5 billion in exports by the end of 2025 with over 8,000 members operating in 12 different agricultural and industrial sectors. Stating that they have a broad production and export infrastructure spanning agriculture to industry, natural stone to textiles, food to water products, Öztürk said that exports to China from across Turkey reached USD 1.212 billion during the January-April period with a 35% increase, while exports from EİB to China during the same period totaled USD 209 million with a 24% increase.

"We declared 2019 as China Year"
Emphasizing that EİB pursues a long-term strategy toward China, Chairman Öztürk stated:

"As the Aegean Exporters Unions, we have been conducting intensive work in line with our USD 1 billion export target to China. We declared 2019 as 'China Year' for EİB. During the same period, we established a dedicated China Team within our organization focused on the China market. We organized 'Target Market: China' seminars and training programs for our members. With the China Mini MBA Program we implemented in November 2022, we aimed to strengthen our companies' knowledge base regarding Chinese business culture and trade structure. We place great importance on trade fairs held in China. We are the only Union that has achieved national participation in three fairs in the country."

Emphasis on China International Import Expo and Xiamen Fair
Öztürk stated that they have organized national participation in China International Import Expo since 2019, noting that at the fair held in 2025, companies from dried fruits, dairy products, cereals and legumes, oil seeds, olive oil and cosmetics sectors met with Chinese buyers.

Regarding the natural stone sector, Öztürk noted that they organize national participation in the Xiamen International Stone Fair annually, and stated that the most recent organization proved quite productive for sector representatives. He also mentioned they participate in Urumqi fairs and organize purchasing delegations and B2B meetings to establish direct connections between Chinese importers and Turkish exporters.

Emphasizing that they do not view cooperation opportunities with China as limited to certain sectors, Öztürk expressed his belief that all sectors within EİB have potential for business development with the Chinese market.

"Trade in local currencies is becoming increasingly important"
Addressing digital promotion efforts targeting the Chinese market, Öztürk noted that they conduct activities promoting regional products on platforms such as WeChat, and host Chinese fair organizers, municipal representatives and sister city delegations at EİB to evaluate cooperation opportunities.

Noting that they attach great importance to financial cooperation, Öztürk stated that they are conducting work with ICBC Turkey Bank to develop trade in local currencies.

Noting that the transformation occurring in global trade directly affects exporters, Öztürk said: "Our exporters struggle not only with production costs; they also deal with uncertainties in financing access, cash flow management and international payment processes. Therefore, cross-border payment systems, foreign trade financing, trade in local currencies and alternative financing models are becoming increasingly important for our exporters with each passing day."

Recalling that Turkey implements annual exports of USD 3.3 billion to China while conducting approximately USD 50 billion in imports, Öztürk emphasized that trade relations between the two countries need to adopt a more balanced and sustainable structure. He noted that they see significant cooperation opportunities particularly in processed agricultural products, natural stone, sustainable production and innovative industry sectors.

"China-Turkey trade maintains positive momentum"
Minister-Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ankara, Li Bin, drew attention to the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Turkey, stating that the meeting is important in evaluating ideas and practices that will develop cooperation between the two countries.

Noting that the world is passing through a period of rising unilateralism and protectionism, Li Bin stated that despite this, China-Turkey economic and trade cooperation is showing positive momentum and bilateral trade volume reached a record level of USD 44.62 billion in 2025.

Stating that trade imbalance between China and Turkey frequently comes up for discussion, Li Bin said that assessments need to be considered together with service trade, not just merchandise trade. Noting that Chinese investments and banking activities in Turkey contribute to Turkey's economic development, Li Bin recorded that Chinese investments in Turkey last year increased by USD 160 million, reaching a total of USD 3.23 billion.

Noting that China attaches importance to increasing imports from Turkey, Li Bin stated that EİB contributes to the promotion of more quality Turkish products to the Chinese market by organizing companies' participation in the Shanghai International Import Fair annually.

Li Bin also emphasized that there are new cooperation opportunities in green development, digital economy and healthcare sectors, in addition to traditional areas such as trade, culture and tourism.

ICBC Turkey emphasis on RMB and financing
ICBC Turkey Bank Board Chairman Qian Hou noted that the Aegean Region holds an important position for the Chinese market in figs, olive oil, nuts and many agricultural products.

Stating that the Aegean Region ranks among the top in Turkey's agricultural exports to China, Hou said that vegetable, fruit and nut exports alone reached USD 53.7 million last year.

Noting that long payment periods, exchange rate fluctuations and financing costs create significant problems in cross-border trade, Hou stated that ICBC Turkey provides support in this regard with financing, direct market access and RMB services.

Pointing to Turkey's strategic position on the Middle Corridor, Hou said that ICBC Turkey, as an RMB clearing bank, will continue to expand areas of RMB usage in China-Turkey trade. Noting that they are exploring cooperation opportunities with Turkish export credit insurance institutions, Hou stated that their goal is to transform exchange rate movements between Turkish Lira and RMB from an obstacle to trade into a facilitating element.

Following the opening remarks, Senior General Manager of ICBC Global Business Division Tang Yongmin delivered a presentation titled "Solutions for Customer and Financial Needs," while Zhang Jung provided information to exporters on "Financial Market Products and RMB Services."