ASTANA, November 9. /TASS/. Moscow is ready to develop and continue long-term cooperation with Astana in the gas sphere, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

"We are aware of the Kazakh economy’s growing need for primary energy, discuss this with the President [of Kazakhstan] and are ready for long-term cooperation that lasts many years. This is critical because it will provide for stability in the energy sector," the Russian leader said.

The expansion of bilateral infrastructural capacities should be the case in point here, Putin noted. "It is also clear what, how, and within what time it can be done and how much it will cost," he said. "A new bilateral agreement on strategic cooperation in the gas sphere was signed last week. The document creates a reliable regulatory base for the partnership of Russia and Kazakhstan in exploration, production of natural gas, and its processing and transportation," the Russian President said.