A total of 129 members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team, who went to Turkiye to aid in rescue efforts, returned to Guangzhou on Feb 19, where they were greeted by officials from Guangzhou's Turkish consulate general and Turkish friends.

The Turkish delegation held Turkish flags and flowers to welcome the Chinese civil rescue team at Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, under the leadership of Kurtulus Aykan, consul general of Turkiye in Guangzhou.

Turkish friends applauded and gave flowers to each member to thank them.

Aykan stated that the earthquake was one of the biggest disasters Turkiye has suffered in over a century. After the earthquake, rescue teams from all over the world mobilized to Turkiye to participate in the rescue. Aykan went on to state that he was very grateful to the China Blue Sky Rescue Team for being part of the rescue operation.

He also said saving lives is the most respectable job in the world, and the Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team had saved countless lives in Turkiye, including saving babies. The Chinese rescue team's immediate deployment to Turkiye when it was in need proves that friends will always be friends.

On the Silk Road, China is at one end and Turkiye is at the other, and the contribution of the Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team in rescue operations has brought the two countries closer.

The Chinese rescue team was also warmly thanked on the Turkish side before it left the country, Aykan noted.

A total of 129 members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team receive warm greetings as they landed in Guangzhou on Feb 19. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]            

Kurtulus Aykan (L2), consul general of Turkiye in Guangzhou, greets the rescue team members with flowers. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]