Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer celebrated the Chinese new year with Chinese citizens in Izmir at the invitation of China's Ambassador to Ankara Liu Shaobin. President Soyer said that the relations that were interrupted during the pandemic period will be strengthened again.
 
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer participated in the 2023 Chinese New Year cultural events organized by the Izmir Chinese People's Aid and Solidarity Association. Besides President Tunç Soyer and his wife Neptune Soyer, Chinese Ambassador to Ankara Liu Shaobin and his wife Lan Weibin, Izmir Vice Governor Hulusi Doğan and his wife Zehra Cansiz Doğan, Izmir Chinese People's Aid and Solidarity Association President Yağız Vang, association presidents, business world representatives, university students and Chinese people living in Izmir attended the event held at Balçova Thermal Hotel.
 
President Tunç Soyer was greeted with Chinese traditional folk dances. Having signed the board prepared by China for the commemoration of the year 2023 with Ambassador Shaobin, Mayor Soyer also toured the stands where Chinese culture is exhibited from kitchen to handicrafts.
“We would like to host the Chengdu municipal delegation in Izmir”
Speaking at the event, Mayor Soyer said, “Unfortunately, our relations that started much earlier in the pandemic process were interrupted. we had invited the People's Republic of China as a guest country at the Izmir International Fair in 2019. We also decided to develop the sister city relationship between us and the representatives of the city of Chengdu.Dec. Because the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Turkey are home to the two largest civilizations in the world. We have many common denominators. I believe that these relations should be strengthened in a world where transportation and logistics opportunities are extremely developed. We would like to host the Chengdu municipal delegation in Izmir as soon as possible,” he said.
"We are ready to be the heart”
Mayor Soyer, who said that Izmir has been one of the most important crossroads of the Silk Road starting from China for centuries, continued his words as follows: “It worked almost like a heart pumping China's products and values to the West. We are ready to be the same heart again. I am also the mayor of all Chinese people living in Izmir. I'm always there for them when they get stuck, whatever they need.” 
”Relations between China and Izmir will refresh"
Chinese Ambassador to Ankara Liu Shaobin stated that the Chinese new year is a traditional holiday for China and said, “Everything will be brand new and there will be new beginnings. This year is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. I think it is important for both countries to act together on the way to realizing their own dreams. Izmir, the third largest city of Turkey, is at the forefront of Turkey in many areas, especially industry and trade. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has established an important line of cooperation by establishing sister city relations. Relations between China and Izmir, which have decayed during the pandemic, will refresh even more,”he said.
Celebrating the Chinese people's new year
Izmir Deputy Governor Hulusi Doğan said, "We are here together today to celebrate the Chinese new year with the honor of our Chinese Ambassador Dec. I would like to thank our association president and members for this beautiful organization. I celebrate the new year of all Chinese people,”he said. Yağız Vang, President of the Izmir Chinese People's Aid and Solidarity Association, said, “We welcome all our friends in an enthusiastic new year.”