MÜSİAD calls on Turkish people to reconsider trade with China

MÜSİAD's call came after the riots that killed 156 in Uighur Autonomous Region in China.

In a statement, the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association, or MÜSİAD, expressed concern over the incidents in Urumchi and called on the Turkish government and international community to take an active role in a bid to ease the tension in the region.

MÜSİAD recalled that Turkish President Abdullah Gul and an accompanying Turkish delegation of businessmen had paid a visit to Urumchi that has a dense population of Uighur Turks and said, "such incidents, just after the visit, are meaningful."

Annual trade volume between Turkey and China, which runs a large deficit against Turkey, is around 17 billion USD. Turkey's exports to China amounts to only some 1.5 billion USD.

"At this level, it is highly important for Turkish people to reconsider trade activities with China," MÜSİAD said.