President Erdoğan: We aim to increase the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Russia to $100 billion
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, spoke at the opening of the 8. Meeting of the Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council in Moscow.
“WE EXCHANGED VIEWS ON REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES”
Noting that Turkey and Russia had broken ground for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and completed the offshore section of the TurkStream gas pipeline, President Erdoğan stated that their next goal is to have completed the onshore section of the pipeline by the year’s end.
Pointing out that a record number of six million Russian citizens visited Turkey last year, President Erdoğan stressed that Turkish businesspeople continue to positively contribute to the Russian economy. Some 1,300 Turkish businesspeople are currently active in Russia as investors, President Erdoğan added, recalling that Russian President Putin himself inaugurated just five days ago the factory which ESTA, a Turkish company, had built for a German automotive company.
The Turkey-Russia culture and tourism year, due to start with an opera performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, will be celebrated with various events, President Erdoğan said. Stating that they exchanged views on regional and international issues during their tete-a-tete, President Erdoğan said that the Turkish ministers accompanying him came together with their Russian counterparts.
Reiterating the two countries’ goal to achieve 100 billion dollars in bilateral trade volume, President Erdoğan said: “Making an analysis of the current situation, we will focus on new targets for the new season. We will maintain our strenuous efforts in all areas including strategic, military, economic, commercial and cultural spheres.”
PRESIDENT PUTIN OF RUSSIA: “WE WORK FOR THE SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE IN SYRIA”
Russian President Putin, for his part, expressed his pleasure to host President Erdoğan and his delegation in Moscow.
Noting that they addressed issues primary for the two countries during their tete-a-tete, President Putin stated that they decided to boost the relations within the framework of multidimensional relations.
Drawing attention to the immense efforts Turkey and Russia have been exerting for de-escalation in Syria as the guarantors of the Astana process, President Putin underlined that they are working for the swift implementation of the constitutional committee.
The two countries have significant cooperation in the TurkStream and Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant projects as well as in defense industry and military areas, President Putin further stressed, adding that the relations in humanitarian areas have also improved.
