MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart, warmly congratulating Ilham Aliyev on his birthday, the Kremlin press service reports.

The presidents discussed the high level of relations between Moscow and Baku and agreed to continue personal contact, it said. Earlier, Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Aliyev.

"Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his birthday," the Kremlin reported. "The leaders stated the high level achieved in Russian-Azerbaijani relations of strategic partnership and alliance and agreed to continue personal contact," it said.

The press service of the Azerbaijani president notes in turn that having congratulated Aliyev, Putin "wished him further successes in presidential activity and health." The two heads of state also "exchanged views on the prospects of bilateral relations", emphasizing their successful development and friendly nature, as well as expressed confidence that ties between the countries will continue to expand in the future.