MOSCOW, January 20. /TASS/. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan held a phone call, discussing bilateral partnership and energy cooperation, the Kremlin press service said in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the two countries’ leaders "discussed pressing issues related to the development of strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries, particularly touching upon future interaction in the energy sector."

Putin and Tokayev last held a telephone conversation on January 3. They praised the high level of Russia-Kazakhstan relations and wished each other a Happy New Year.