A Chinese company said on Thursday that China was importing 60-70 percent of its natural stone need from Turkey.

Rose Wang, the director general of Chinese stone company "Kangli", said that Kangli was the first Chinese company to launch marble imports from Turkey.

The director general said Turkish stones were being used in many projects in China, and Turkey was providing 60-70 percent of China's natural stone imports.

"Our company is making at least 55 percent of our imports from Turkey," Rose Wang said.

Rose Wang also said stone imports from Turkey would continue.

Considered among the top three natural stone fairs in the world in regard to number of participants, the Izmir International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair (Marble 2011) is hosting 265 foreign and 1,160 local companies from 42 countries.

The fair opened its doors to visitors for the 17th time on Wednesday, and it will stay open till March 26.

Last year, 54,220 people, including 4,281 foreigners, visited the fair.

Some 55,000 people are expected to visit the fair this year.