Istanbul, April 28, 2025 — The Europe Today: The Consulate General of China in Istanbul, in collaboration with various Turkish non-governmental organizations and business leaders, marked a significant milestone in the Türkiye-China friendship by planting 10,000 saplings in the Arnavutkoy forest area near Istanbul Airport on Sunday.
The event, which serves as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations, also highlights a shared commitment to achieving net-zero carbon targets by 2050 through environmental diplomacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Consul General Wei Xiaodong emphasized the importance of green development and sustainable cooperation between China and Türkiye. “I am very happy to see that the practical cooperation between our countries covers many projects in the fields of green and sustainable development,” Wei said. “I look forward to a higher level of cooperation between China and Türkiye not only in diplomatic relations but also in the field of green development. I believe this will benefit both our countries and the world.”
Wei also drew attention to the strategic significance of the planting location, situated near Istanbul Airport, a hub with high fossil fuel consumption due to the aviation sector. “The place where we are planting trees today is very close to the airport, which is very important because the aviation sector consumes a lot of fossil fuels. Therefore, it is very good that we can do something about this issue,” he added, stressing the importance of actions toward meeting 2050 carbon emission targets.
Mustafa Ciftci, vice president of the Green Türkiye Foresters Association, which partnered in the planting effort, underscored the importance of public-interest activities in achieving Türkiye’s sustainability goals. “As Green Türkiye, we encourage all companies to participate in sapling planting activities each year to help meet the 2050 carbon emission targets outlined in the Green Deal,” Ciftci stated. He also expressed gratitude to the Regional Directorate of Forestry for providing the planting area.
Kemal Aygenli, deputy mayor of Arnavutkoy Municipality, warmly welcomed the afforestation initiative, highlighting its contribution to local environmental efforts. Ganimet Khasia, president of the China Hubei Region Businessmen Association, expressed optimism for the future of Türkiye-China relations, emphasizing that the friendship and environmental stewardship demonstrated through such initiatives would remain a lasting legacy.
The tree-planting event reflects the growing environmental collaboration between China and Türkiye, with both nations aiming to make substantial contributions toward a greener, more sustainable future.
