Turkey, Russia cooperation to be hope for region: Erdoğan

SOCHI - Anadolu Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said the cooperation between Turkey and Russia will "be hope to the region".

Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met on Sept. 17 in the coastal city of Sochi.

The closed-door meeting at the Russian presidential residence lasted around an hour and 50 minutes.

Speaking ahead of his meeting, Erdoğan said exchanging views on political, military and economic issues will strengthen both Turkey and Russia.

"I believe that not only of our region, but also the eyes of the whole world are now on Sochi," said Erdoğan, adding that the results of the Sochi talks will bring new hope to the region.

Putin said Turkey-Russia relations "are developing positively."

"In terms of trade, it's growing intensely. Our relations are also improving in terms of regional security," Putin added.

Erdoğan was accompanied by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, head of National Intelligence Service (MİT) Hakan Fidan, Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın and Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.

Among the Russian delegation were Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Relations between Turkey and Russia, economy and energy issues, as well as regional and international issues, particularly Syria, were among the topics that were discussed.