Two countries: One is on the east edge of Asia and the other is on the west edge of Asia.. Both are connected to the other parts of the world thru Eurasia.. Both are mentioned within the historic Silk Road.. From competition to cooperation...  China and Turkey..

It has already been four years since I moved from Turkey and started practicing life in China.  So far, I have visited many places in China and made numerous of friends in various occasions..  While still very eager to see more places and meet more Chinese fellows, I realized that both Chinese and Turkish have some common ground and share similarities. Here are some of them :

* Earthquake victims
(I extend my deepest condolences to the Chinese nation and pray for those who are in need of help in the recent Sichuan quake)

* Family centered relationship (although this is changing in the urban areas)

* Great influence of traditions in the daily life, especially in the rural areas

* Respect seniors

* Developing economy which is currently depending on export and FDI

* Inflation

* Terror victims

* Patriotic reaction to keep national unity

* Multi ethnics

* Great influence of friendship/network in the business life

* Exaggerated hospitality and meal/entertainment ritual

* Very long history and reach cultural background

* Ritual of the national drink : Tea  (for Turks, also uniquely prepared Turkish Coffee )

* Hot pepper (especially Sichuan&Hunan in China and south-east of provinces in Turkey)

* Being on the crossroads on the earth

* Crafts

* Calligraphy

* Traditional Medicine

* Humor Heroes : Afanti in China  and Nasrettin Hoca in Turkey

* Fortune telling

* Defeating invaders proudly and saving homeland

* From monarchy to republic

* Center of finance, business and more: Shanghai and Istanbul

* Competing friends to pay the bill on the dinner table

* Noisy celebration: Fire crackers in China and guns in Turkey

* Hierarchy

* Energy shortage

* From state run economy to market economy : Reforms started almost in the same time by Deng Xiaoping in China and byTurgut Ozal in Turkey

And.. The big transformation....

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