During his visit, Fidan toured the Yanghang Mosque and the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi. The Xinjiang province is known for its ethnic Uyghur population, who are predominantly Muslim.

Fidan's visit to Urumqi and the forthcoming visit to Kashgar city underscore the significance of these locations in the context of Sino-Turkish and Sino-Islamic relations. Speaking at a news conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday, Fidan highlighted the historical and cultural importance of Kashgar and Urumqi. He described them as ancient Turkic Islamic cities that have enriched China's cultural heritage.

Additionally, Fidan met with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng during his visit. This trip marks the highest-level visit from Türkiye to Xinjiang since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then-prime minister, visited the region in April 2012.

Türkiye has recently intensified efforts to strengthen its diplomatic ties with various regions of China. Last year, Ankara expanded its diplomatic presence in China by opening a Consulate General in Chengdu, complementing its existing embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. (ILKHA)