Uighurs are a largely Muslim, Turkic-speaking minority from China's western Xinjiang region. Meeting on the sidelines of a summit about China's new Silk Road plan, Xi told Erdogan that developing strategic cooperation was in the interests of both countries, China's foreign ministry said late on Saturday. "In order to promote even greater development of relations, China and Turkey must respect and give consideration to each other's core concerns, and deepen security and counter-terrorism cooperation," the ministry cited Xi as saying. Syria's ambassador to China told Reuters last week that up to 5,000 Uighurs are fighting in various militant groups in Syria. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts Uighurs' religious freedoms.

Source: Egypt Independent May 14, 2017 01:18 UTC