Turkish President Erdogan in Beijing amid ethnic tensions

BEIJING (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with top Chinese officials Wednesday amid tensions over China's treatment of its Uighur minority and sensitive negotiations surrounding the possible purchase of a Chinese missile system.

While the sides enjoy outwardly friendly relations, Turkish public sentiment has been inflamed by reports that members of the Uighur minority native to China's northwest have been restricted in practicing their Islamic faith, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, which ended in mid-July.

Turks and Uighurs share close linguistic, cultural and religious ties.

Hundreds of people marched in Istanbul earlier this month, burning Chinese flags outside the consulate, waving flags representing the Uighurs' putative homeland and calling for a boycott of Chinese goods. The demonstration was peaceful, but a group of nationalists tried to attack a group of Korean tourists who they mistook for Chinese. Police rescued the tourists.

Prior to the protests, the Turkish Foreign Ministry had called in the Chinese ambassador and issued a statement saying the Turkish public was "saddened" by reports of the Ramadan restrictions.

China responded by denying any curbs on religious expression and demanding that Ankara clarify the matter. Despite Beijing's statements, China has exercised long-standing bans on Uighur Communist Party members, government workers and students joining in religious observances.

Erdogan met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, and was scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping later in the day.

"China holds China-Turkey relations in very high regard," Li told Erdogan in brief comments before reporters were escorted from the room. "On the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit, political trust and practical cooperation, I believe that your visit will help to advance the development of China-Turkey relations."

Relations are further complicated by Turkey's closeness with the United States and the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Turkey, a NATO member, agreed in principle in 2013 to buy China's HQ-9 air defense missile system. China reportedly offered the best price and to furnish the technology behind the system.

However, the deal has run into controversy over its incompatibility with NATO weapons systems and the possible leak of military secrets to Beijing.

China has also opposed any international intervention in Syria, while Erdogan has been among the toughest critics of Bashar Assad's regime.

The differences come despite growing tourism and surging Chinese exports to Turkey, which has contracted with a Chinese company to build a high-speed rail line.