ANKARA, December 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan started narrow-format talks on Monday.

Later, Putin and Erdogan will hold a session of the High-Level Cooperation Council.

Ahead of the visit, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin and Erdogan are expected to focus on international issues. Priority attention will be paid to Syria, Ushakov added.

Military-technical cooperation will be one of the topical issues at the talks. Russia intends to raise the question of tax privileges for the state-run nuclear corporation, Rosatom, over the Akkuyu nuclear plant project. Russian gas supplies will also be discussed, Ushakov said.

After the session of the High-Level Cooperation Council, the year 2016 will be declared the Bilateral Year of Tourism.

Turkey expects gas discounts to be given and foodstuffs supplies to increase. Turkey hopes to discuss new possibilities to expand export due to the fact that Moscow and Ankara intend to increase trade turnover to $100 billion by 2020.

Turkey paid much attention to agreements on preferential trade and removing trade and economic restrictions. Both countries are ready to use their own currencies in mutual trade.

Local observers hope that both parties will succeed in achieving progress in the gas sector.