Chinese Nobel literature laureate Mo Yan on Saturday called on the Chinese and Turkish governments to make further efforts in translating more works in a bid to increase better understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

The Chinese writer made the statement at a press conference in Istanbul where he has spent five days in a week tour as the last guest of "100 Chinese Intellectuals" invited by the Turkish government.

"Reading books is a kind of in-depth understanding by the people of different countries," he said, noting "the main problem between the two countries in the field of literature is the lack of the translated books."

"I could only have the chance to read the works of Orhan Pamuk as he was the only Turkish writer whose books have been translated into Chinese, and Turkish readers probably only read my works among other Chinese writers," he said.

Mo Yan visited Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish 2006 Nobel literature prize winner, in his private library on Friday evening. The two laureates agreed to contribute more to accelerate the translation of literary works from the two countries.

"I am sure that Orhan Pamuk would support the translation projects. I want my visit to Turkey to provide a breakthrough in that context," he said.

Mo said his visit to Turkey has given him memories and material for future writing. "I may well use the ancient cultural touch of Hagia Sophia as the main setting for a future book," he said.

Hagia Sophia, completed in 537 CE, is famous as a high point of Byzantine architecture. The Eastern Orthodox cathedral later became a mosque after the Ottomans captured Istanbul, then Constantinople, in 1453. It has been a museum since 1935.

"In every corner of the Hagia Sophia, you can feel the touch of the peoples of antiquity. It is a living document that has been left from the past," Mo said.

The writer also said he was fascinated by the items housed at the military museum of Harbiye. "I have a book which tells a story of a war. I am very much interested in the items related to the war," he added.

The Turkish president, Abdullah Gul, met Mo on Friday and praised his contribution to world literature.

During the one-year period, Turkey has hosted 100 Chinese intellectuals, which has been considered the first biggest project in the history of China-Turkey relations. The project was organized as part of the 2013 Turkish cultural year in China.

Turkish project coordinator Rahmi Ozgirgin said, "The project revealed the fact that the two ancient civilizations have a lot in common to share and the cultural exchange is the most important way to demolish prejudice between the two communities."