SAEDNEWS: This year commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Türkiye.
According to Saednews, Turkish scholars, students and political figures say China's Long March offers valuable insights into the country's revolutionary history and development path, while emphasizing the need to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Türkiye.
The Red Army, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), consisted largely of soldiers from peasant and worker families during the Chinese revolution. From 1934 to 1936, the army covered approximately 12,500 kilometers to break through encirclement by Kuomintang forces. This historic journey later became known as the Long March.
Murat Tamer, a Turkish scholar specializing in cultural exchanges between China and Türkiye, said the Long March deserved greater recognition in Türkiye. Beyond its historical significance, he noted, the march demonstrated the CPC's determination, organizational capabilities and strategic thinking in the face of formidable challenges.
Tamer added that the spirit of the Long March could help Turkish people better understand how China overcame difficulties and pursued its own development path.
China's Long March legacy through Turkish eyes
For Turkish students studying in China, the Long March also offers valuable lessons that relate to their personal experiences.
Berfin Adiyaman, a master's student in applied economics at Northwestern Polytechnical University, said studying the Long March had strengthened her understanding of the importance of perseverance.
During her studies in China, she has encountered challenges such as language barriers and homesickness. She said that participating in exchanges between Chinese and Turkish businesses and working at a logistics company in Xi'an, northwest China, had given her a deeper understanding of Chinese society.
"Whether it is a country or an individual, courage and perseverance are essential in the face of adversity," Adiyaman said. She added that she hoped to contribute to economic cooperation between China and Türkiye and promote exchanges among young people.
Yuksel Mansur Kilinc, a member of the Türkiye-China Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, said China's development model had attracted considerable interest in Türkiye. He highlighted its emphasis on common prosperity, harmony between humanity and nature, and the balanced development of material and spiritual civilization.
Kilinc said China and Türkiye had new opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations. Events commemorating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries have taken place across Türkiye this year, reflecting growing interest in expanding bilateral exchanges.
Describing cultural exchanges as a key foundation of bilateral relations, Kilinc called for closer cooperation in media and culture, alongside economic and technological collaboration. Such efforts, he said, could foster mutual understanding and support the long-term development of China-Türkiye relations.
