Turkey will not allow its soil to be used for activities that damage China's security, the two countries' foreign ministers agreed on Wednesday, following recent disputes over China's Uighur ethnic minority that had soured ties.

Beijing says some Uighurs then end up fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria. But Ankara vowed last year to keep its doors open to Uighur migrants fleeing what rights activists have called religious persecution in China. Beijing denies accusations that it restricts the Uighurs' religious freedoms.

The two countries will "jointly fight terrorist groups, including ETIM, oppose extremism and constrain illegal immigration", a statement on the ministry's website cited Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu reportedly agreed to improve anti-terrorism cooperation when the two met ahead of an Asia security forum in Beijing this week.

"Turkey will take all necessary steps to strengthen bilateral anti-terrorism cooperation, combat illegal immigration, fight ETIM, continue to emphasize China's security concerns and not allow anyone in Turkey to engage in activities that harm China's security," the Chinese statement cited Çavuşoğlu as saying.