MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced their content with the positive trend in bilateral trade and economic relations in their telephone conversation, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

"They focused on pressing issues of the Russian-Turkish partnership in a variety of fields. They expressed satisfaction with the positive dynamics of trade and economic relations, the successful implementation of joint strategic projects in the energy sector, including gas supplies and the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey," the statement said.

On March 19, Erdogan said that the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant would make a major contribution to uninterrupted and balanced electricity supplies in Turkey.

The Akkuyu NPP, the first nuclear power plant in Turkey, is being constructed under the intergovernmental agreement signed by Russia and Turkey on May 12, 2010.

The nuclear station will include four Russian-designed VVER generation 3+ reactors. Each reactor’s power output will stand at 1,200 MW. Once commissioned and brought to full capacity, the NPP will produce about 35 billion kWh every year. The power plant is expected to cover up to 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs. The first power unit of the Akkuyu NPP is expected to be launched in 2023.