Vladimir Putin headed to Turkey on Sunday for the first official visit by a Russian president. Putin was due in Ankara for dinner with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer before official talks Monday. His two-day visit marks a milestone in relations between two countries. "Russia and Turkey are moving towards cooperation and the flourishing it will bring with it," Putin said before the trip, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. Bilateral trade increased by 60 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2004, reaching US$4.6 billion (¤3.4 billion), according to Russia's trade ministry, and may exceed US$10 billion (¤7.5 billion) for the year. Putin's visit, which will include a business forum, is expected to produce six cooperation agreements on issues including defense, finance and energy.
