State Councilor and Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun called for stronger cooperation between China and Turkey in the fight against terrorism.

Guo made the comments in a meeting in Beijing on Jan 26 with chief of the Turkish National Police Mehmet Celalettin Lekesiz.

Guo said the international fight against terrorism involves many complex challenges, and terrorist organizations such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement pose a grave threat to social stability and affects people’s everyday lives — in both countries.

He also said he hopes that the two sides will strengthen pragmatic cooperation concerning anti-terrorism measures and cracking down on organized human smuggling.

He added that both countries need to fully utilize platforms — such as bilateral joint working group meetings — to continue perfecting their cooperative mechanisms, improve the quality of collaboration, so as to jointly ensure the security and stability of both countries and the whole region.

Mehmet said Turkey firmly opposes any form of terrorism and is willing to work together with China to boost counter-terrorism efforts.