Bishkek: Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed that Trkiye remains one of Moscow's 'privileged partners' in both foreign policy and economic cooperation.

According to Anadolu Agency, Putin made these remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The summit marks the organization's 25th anniversary and gathers leaders from member states and invited partners.

During the meeting, Putin highlighted the high level of economic cooperation between Russia and Trkiye, attributing this to Erdogan's consistent interest and attention. He emphasized that the two countries are actively implementing significant joint projects, including the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Trkiye. Putin noted that the project, undertaken by the Russian company Rosatom, is on schedule to launch its first unit within the year.

Furthermore, Putin pointed out the 'significant potential' for expanding cooperation between Moscow and Ankara in cultural and humanitarian areas. He also mentioned the increasing number of Russian tourists visiting Trkiye, projecting the figure to reach nearly 7 million by 2025.