During the visit of RMC delegation to Turkey and festivities devoted to the 800th anniversary of the birth of Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, Chairman of Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russian Federation mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin met with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on December 17, 2014 in the Turkish city of Konya.

During the meeting they discussed the issues of strengthening Russian-Turkish cooperation in spiritual and religious spheres, namely the joint projects of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russian Federation.

Head of the Turkish Republic reminded that during his meeting with the Russian president earlier this month, they've discussed cooperation between the two countries in humanitarian sphere, including the issues of building new Jum'ah (congregational) mosque in Simferopol and the reconstruction of the existing mosque Kabir Cami and Seit Settar madrasah in the historical part of the city.

During the meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke highly of the level of relations between the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Republic and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russian Federation and Russia Muftis Council, on the other side. "The actions of Russia's Muslims promote the atmosphere of friendship, brotherhood, confidence and respect between the people of our countries and our countries themselves," said the head of Turkey.

The parties also discussed the topic of the upcoming completion of the reconstruction and decoration of the Moscow Jum'ah Mosque. The Turkish leader reaffirmed his intention to continue the support and assistance in the construction of the new mosque complex.

Russian spiritual leader invited Mr President to attend the solemn opening ceremony of the mosque which will take place in May of 2016 as an honoured guest, to which Turkish leader answered positively.

"Becoming a guest of Russian Muslims will be an honour for me," said President Erdoğan.

After the talk, President Erdoğan and mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin together visited the mausoleum of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-î Rûmî. The poet's legacy was widely celebrated in Turkey in the last days, and the visit of the spiritual head of Russia's Muslims was timed to coincide with these events.