HANGZHOU (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting in China's Hangzhou prior to the opening of the G20 summit.
"The meeting was focused mainly to issues on the economic agenda, the restoration of relationships between our countries back to the level that we used to have. We noted progress in several areas, in particular, we have moved closer to an agreement on free trade of services and investment. There was an expert meeting in late August and I agreed to meet with my counterpart [Turkish Economy] Minister [Nihat] Zeybekci in late October," Ulyukayev said.
He specified that his upcoming talks with Zeybekci would be aimed at finalizing work on the draft free trade agreement.
Russia, China Discuss Specific Detail of Turkish Stream Project
Russia and Turkey proceeded to discussions of specific issues related to the implementation of the Turkish Stream pipeline project, Ulyukayev said.
"Activities on the Turkish Stream are also underway. Specific things are solved there. For example, where, in what place, the pipeline should enter the Turkish coast, with provision of relevant sites. Generally, it was a very practical work."
The Turkish Stream project, which is expected to bring Russian gas via the Black Sea to Turkey and southern Europe, was suspended after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24, 2015.
Turkey Fulfilled All Promises on Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
Turkey has fulfilled all its promises regarding the Akkuyu NPP, the situation is developing very positively with a high level of confidence that the first NPP unit will be put into operation within the timeframe established by the contract, the Russian economic development minister said.
"[The Akkuyu issue] was discussed. Regarding the nuclear power plant we have a very positive situation development. The Turkish side has fulfilled all its promises, made changes to the three laws of the republic giving this project the status of strategic… There is a high degree of certainty that in time established by the contract, in seven years, if I'm not mistaken, the first unit will be put into effect," Ulyukayev said.
Putin, Erdogan Discuss Lifting of Russia's Food Ban
Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Russia's ban imposed on Turkish food products in the context of lifting the restrictions on Ankara, Ulyukayev said.
"Of course it has been discussed, it has been discussed in the context that we are working on lifting these restrictions," Ulyukayev told reporters.
He added that the Russian side should be certain that Turkish companies wishing to export their agricultural production meet Russia's quality specifications.
In late June the two nations ended the period of tensions, when Erdogan wrote a letter to Putin in which he apologized for the downing of the plane and extended his condolences to the family of the pilot killed in the incident.
By apologizing for the incident, Ankara fulfilled Moscow's condition for restoring the long-term partnership between the two countries. Putin subsequently lifted the ban on charter flights and instructed the government to negotiate a revival of trade with Ankara.
