MOSCOW, September 27. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim on Tuesday to discuss a number of energy projects, future bilateral contacts and other issues, the Russian government’s press-service said, adding that the conversation had taken place at Turkey’s request.

"Medvedev and Yildirim touched upon topical issues of trading and economic interaction, including the implementation of major joint projects in the energy sphere, including the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the gas pipeline Turkish Stream. Also, they previewed the timetable of forthcoming bilateral contacts," the news release runs.

Yildirim congratulated Medvedev upon successful State Duma elections and the United Russia party’s victory.

"Yildirim underscored his Cabinet’s interest in the steady development of Russian-Turkish relations," the Russian government’s press-office said.

The Russian leadership unveiled the Turkish Stream project in December 2014 as an alternative to the aborted South Stream. One pipeline of a future gas carrier will be entirely commissioned to meet the growing demand of Turkey’s domestic market.

Another major Russian-Turkish energy project provides for the construction of a four-reactor Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin province. The 4,800-megawatt NPP’s construction costs are estimated at $22 billion. So far Russia has already invested about $3 billion. The first reactor is scheduled to go operational in 2020.