14.12.2025 22:30
A delegation led by Rao Quan, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, made a historic visit to Şanlıurfa to inspect the Karahantepe and Taştepeler Project on-site, coordinated by the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality.
The Chinese delegation, led by Rao Quan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), including archaeologists, made a historic visit to Şanlıurfa to inspect the Karahantepe and Taştepeler Project on-site, coordinated by the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality.
Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, the Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized during his meeting with the Chinese delegation that the archaeological richness of the city is increasingly attracting global interest and expressed their readiness for strong, sustainable, and lasting collaborations in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage with China.
The Chinese delegation, led by Rao Quan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), visited Şanlıurfa, one of Turkey's most important cultural and archaeological centers. During the visit, the Chinese delegation toured the city's historical and touristic sites, especially Karahantepe, and received comprehensive information about Şanlıurfa's cultural heritage that spans thousands of years.
KARAHANTEPE AND TAŞTEPELER PROJECT CLOSELY EXAMINED
The delegation, which examined Karahantepe, one of the oldest settlement areas in the world, was given detailed presentations about the excavation works and the Taştepeler Project being carried out in the region.
After the historical tours, the Chinese delegation was hosted at the Gastronomy Center of the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, located in the Cumhuriyet Social Facilities. The guests, who tasted the unique flavors of Şanlıurfa cuisine, stated that the city holds significant tourism value not only for its history but also for its gastronomy.
MAYOR GÜLPINAR MET WITH THE CHINESE DELEGATION
Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, the Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, met with Rao Quan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, and the accompanying delegation. In a friendly atmosphere, they exchanged views on the preservation of cultural heritage, scientific studies in archaeology, and opportunities for cultural cooperation between Turkey and China.
Mayor Gülpınar presented various gifts to Deputy Minister Rao Quan in memory of the visit.
MAYOR GÜLPINAR: "ŞANLIURFA'S NAME IS BECOMING MORE KNOWN WORLDWIDE"
In his evaluations regarding the visit, Mayor Gülpınar emphasized the great importance of the Chinese delegation's visit to Şanlıurfa, stating, "It is extremely valuable for us that the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of China and the accompanying delegation wanted to visit Şanlıurfa. The name of Şanlıurfa has recently started to be heard significantly, especially in the field of archaeology. Recent discoveries clearly reveal the extent of Urfa's great wealth," he said.
EMPHASIS ON COOPERATION IN ARCHAEOLOGY WITH CHINA
Mayor Gülpınar pointed out that China is one of the leading countries in the field of archaeology, reminding that China sponsors excavation works at 70 different sites worldwide, stating, "China is perhaps the number one country in the field of archaeology. We are talking about a country that voluntarily supports many excavations for the sake of world cultural heritage. Their support and cooperation will greatly please us," he expressed.
"A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR URFA"
Mayor Gülpınar stated that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also attaches great importance to Şanlıurfa and the Taştepeler Project, expressing that this support has become even more evident, especially after the visit of Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to the city. Gülpınar said, "We want to continue to increase these collaborations. Our goal is to ensure that Urfa benefits much more from these riches."
Stating that the visit, although a day trip, was extremely productive and could yield significant results for Turkey, Şanlıurfa, and world cultural heritage, Gülpınar expressed that the Metropolitan Municipality is ready to provide all kinds of support, saying, "As we did in our previous collaborations with the Japanese government, we aim to formalize this process with the Chinese government and take it to a higher level. We are ready to provide all kinds of support within our local capabilities."