ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the trade relations between Turkey and Russia have grown 7 times.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan stated that the trade volume had been increasing in the recent years.
"The economic cooperation between Turkey and Russia has been developing and we are glad in terms of the improvement. The trade relations have increased 7 times. Russia is the biggest second trade partner of Turkey. The trade volume would reach 35 billion USD until the end of the year," Erdogan said.
Touching on the establishment of the nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, Erdogan said that the works were being carried out profoundly.
Erdogan says he assessed Mideast issue with Russian leader
Erdogan has said that he assessed the situation in the Middle East as well as Syria with Putin.
We are pleased that Turkey's foreign policy principle coincides with Russia's stance basically, said Erdogan who held a joint press conference with Putin.
We hope clashes and bloodshed in Syria would end immediately, said Erdogan, adding that foreign ministries of Turkey and Russia were taking further steps about Syria issue.
Noting that restoring peace and stability in Syria had a vital importance both for Turkey, the region, and the international community, Erdogan said that Putin and he one more time confirmed that this was a common wish of Turkey and Russia.
Erdogan also thanked Russia for its support to upgrading of Palestine's status in the United Nations which became an observer state.
Erdogan: high-level cooperation council meetings strengthen Turkish-Russian relations
Erdogan said that high-level cooperation council meetings strengthened relations between Turkey and Russia.
First council meeting was held in 2010, and today's was the third one, said Erdogan who held a joint press conference with Russian President.
We have discussed joint projects in energy area as well as developing relations in cultural area today, said Erdogan.
Economic and commercial relations between our countries are rapidly developing, said Erdogan, and added that commercial relations rose seven times since his government came into rule.
Erdogan noted that Turkish-Russian trade volume, which had been 30 billion USD in 2011, was posted as 24.5 billion USD in January-September period of 2012, and he expressed hope that it would reach 35 billion USD by the end of this year.
Turkish entrepreneurs made investments more than ten billion USD in Russia, said Erdogan.
Erdogan said that Turkish construction companies, so far, undertook 1,400 projects worth of 40 billion USD in Russia.
