Bilateral energy cooperation has evolved into real strategic partnership, Putin said at a meeting of the Russian-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council in St. Petersburg.

"In 2014, we are planning to start building an offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline on the bottom of the Black Sea in Turkey’s exclusive economic zone," he said.

Construction of South Stream sea leg to kick off in Turkey's economic zone in 2014 – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed the plan to launch the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline sea leg in Turkey’s economic zone in 2014. He told the ongoing meeting of the High Level Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council that in the field of energy the two countries have reached a truly strategic level of cooperation.

"In 2014, we plan to launch the construction, in Turkey's exclusive economic zone, of the sea leg of the South Stream gas pipeline", Putin said.

He added that the Blue Stream gas pipeline, laid across the seabed of the Black Sea, has also been operating reliably.  MORE