I have been coming to Turkey now for the last fifteen years. In previous trips to Istanbul, I got the impression that Turkey was living in the past, reminiscing about the glory days of the Ottoman Empire. It was also a country that got little respect, although it wanted it desperately. However, on a recent trip, I discovered that things are changing. Turkey, much like China, is on the move.

Change is in the air in Turkey. Construction cranes dot the landscape. Many formerly sleepy Istanbul neighborhoods are being upgraded and gentrified. The biggest changes, however, are occurring in the political sphere.

Ruled by secularists since the founding of the modern Turkish republic by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923, the current government here is Islamist-leaning. Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a scrappy, savvy street fighter from a tough Istanbul neighborhood. Under his leadership, Turkey is enjoying a new renaissance.

Some people here fear that the government has a secret plan to impose an Islamic republic like in Iran. Many of my Kemalist friends, deeply distrust the government on this score and because they believe that the government has detained hundreds of people without trial for months or years for their alleged involvement in an alleged planned military coup. Personally, I don’t see that the powers that be want to establish any kind of theocracy here. Although, conservative and deeply religious, there seem to be no signs of anything more. As for those imprisoned, they should have the right to a speedy and fair trial to determine their guilt or innocence.

In the international arena, Turkey is also exuding newfound confidence. You just need to look at some of her immediate neighbors such as Iran, Iraq and Syria not to mention Armenia, Cyprus, Israel, and Lebanon to know that Turkey is a shining example in an otherwise tumultuous region - a Muslim country with a democracy that generally seems to work.

It comes as little surprise that last month Prime Minister Erdoğan visited three Muslim neighbors very much in the news recently: Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. a potential strategic alliance with Egypt could be the region's best bet for increased stability.

A few years ago, Turkey thought it needed Europe to grow and prosper. Now, it seems Europe may need the dynamic Turkish economy to help it claw its way out of financial crisis. Extreme hurdles set up by xenophobic Eurocrats in Brussels, coupled with the threat of the impending collapse of the euro area, have made Turkey rethink its proposed alliances. Instead of EU membership, Turkey is in the early stages of formulating an embryonic union for the Middle Eastern nations. Interestingly Russia is doing the same.

Some European leaders have proposed a "special relationship" between the EU and Turkey, where Turkey would have gotten many of the benefits of EU membership without becoming a full member. The Turks are a very proud people and I really wonder if they would cede so much of the country's sovereignty. Now that the EU is financially strapped, the costs of such an arrangement likely make it impossible.

Turkey and China share a long history, with trade along the Silk Road as the most obvious example. The first historical reference to Turkic tribes came from Chinese almanacs.

Nowadays, the two countries share a robust trade. They also share an interest in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region and its Turkic Uyghur people. Both sides have an interest in promoting a harmonious society there, insuring peace and stability but also allowing the people to share in China's economic miracle.

Like China, Turkey has awoken. The country's vibrant development as well its increasing prominence on the global stage has made it the country to watch in its region and beyond.

Harvey Dzodin currently is a Senior Advisor to Tsinghua University. He was Director and Vice President at ABC Television in New York from 1982 until 2004.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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