ANKARA (AFP)--Turkish President Abdullah Gul will pay a four-day visit to Russia starting Thursday in a bid to boost political and economic ties, his office said Wednesday.
Gul and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are expected to sign a joint declaration stressing the two countries' desire "to take relations to a higher level and further deepen their friendship and multidimensional partnership," the statement said.
The two leaders will also discuss regional and international issues, it said.
Gul was scheduled to visit also Russia's federal republic of Tatarstan and hold talks with its leader Mintimer Shaimiev.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Turkey and Russia have significantly improved ties since the collapse of the Communist bloc.
Russia is today Turkey's top economic partner, with the trade volume reaching $37.8 billion in 2008. Moscow also supplies Ankara with 63% of its gas and 29% of its oil.