86th Izmir International Fair opened

Ankara is a "crucial" trade partner for Moscow, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said at opening day of the 86th Izmir International Fair, in Izmir, Turkey.

"Multi-dimensional cooperation of our countries is developing," Novak said.

He noted that Russia and Turkey were enhancing cooperation in several fields, including industry, transport, agriculture and construction.

"For instance, [bilateral] trade volume increased by 28 percent in the first half of this year," Anadolu Agency  cited the minister as saying.