Five years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping revived the ancient Silk Road with the Belt and Road Initiative. Last year, he gave it a digital dimension as he proposed the Digital Silk Road, which will encompass quantum computing, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud storage. Turkey, an important part of the ancient Silk Road, is cooperating with China on several levels, particularly in telecommunications. CGTN's Michal Bardavid has more from Istanbul.

Turkey is a significant country that values China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The two countries have cooperated within the scope of the project in several areas, including railway projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and maritime transportation, as Chinese state-owned COSCO has acquired sixty-five percent of Turkey's 3rd largest container terminal Kumport.

One important industry that stands out in terms of joint collaboration lies within the digital world.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL "One of Turkey's major telecommunications providers, Turkcell has joined forces with China's global information and communications technology provider Huawei, working together they set an example of how the two countries can benefit each other as two of their business giants cooperate within the scope of the digital silk road."

Turkcell aims to benefit from Huawei's and the Chinese governments' experience and knowledge in software development and innovative solutions.

GEDIZ SEZGIN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT TURKCELL NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES "We have signed an agreement with the Chinese government. With this deal, we will create new products and develop them further. Our work to produce technology in Turkey continues with Huawei and the Chinese government."

Turkcell and Huawei are working on the development of 5G technologies.

GEDIZ SEZGIN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT TURKCELL NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES "5G technology will take the future to a different level, it will change the future. 5G will become a technology that changes people's lifestyles."

Once the 5G technology is launched, Turkcell officials say it will transform many industries, such as shipping and transportation. The two business giants have also signed a Smartcity cooperation protocol for the Turkish city of Samsun. The Smartcity project will aim to reduce city life issues such as traffic and parking, making life easier for its citizens. The CEO of Turkcell, Kaan Terzioglu expressed his gratitude to Huawei and China during the signing ceremony.

KAAN TERZIOGLU TURKCELL CEO "Turkey is a country that is currently under attack from several angles. Huawei and the Chinese government have been by our side, enhancing our technological development. Both have supported us during these difficult times. Both deserve a big thank you."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has recently stated that Turkey intends to more actively participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative; telecommunications and information technology is certainly a vital industry that paves the way for that to happen within the digital silk road. Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Istanbul.