Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul have exchanged congratulatory messages over the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

In his message, Hu said since China and Turkey forged diplomatic ties 40 years ago, bilateral relations have enjoyed steady development with frequent high-level exchanges, fruitful people-to-people exchanges and close communications and coordination in international and regional affairs.

China values the traditional friendship with Turkey and attaches importance to the development of China-Turkey relations, Hu said.

Taking the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties as an opportunity, Hu said, China is willing to work with Turkey to turn a new chapter in the China-Turkey friendship by maintaining all-level personnel exchanges, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, broadening cultural exchanges and together safeguarding the interests of developing countries.

Gul said China is Turkey's important partner with great international influence and economic strength. Turkey wants to advance bilateral ties from a long-term and strategic perspective.

In 2010, the two countries established a strategic relationship of cooperation, which was in the interest of the two peoples, Gul said.

Turkey and China have great cooperative potential. Turkey is willing to explore and use such potential to push forward bilateral ties under the framework of the strategic relationship of cooperation, Gul said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also exchanged congratulatory messages with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Wen said the establishment of the China-Turkey strategic relationship of cooperation in October 2010 demonstrated bilateral ties had entered a new phase. China is willing to make joint efforts with Turkey to move forward bilateral relations.

Erdogan said it is a common task of both countries to increase the level of bilateral cooperation on the basis of long-term, robust and all-dimension strategic cooperation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.