Kazakhstan, Astana, Feb. 29 / Trend T.Nurmagambetov /
Military officials of Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and China discussed arms reduction at the border during a special seminar in Astana, the press-service of the Kazakh Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
A regional seminar aimed at sharing the experience of carrying out agreements between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and China and on strengthening confidence in the military sphere and on reduction of armed forces at the borders is nearing completion in Astana. The relevant agreements were previously signed in 1996 and 1997.
Representatives of the Chinese armed forces, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, representatives of departments and offices of the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, the regional commands of the Armed Forces and the Border Guard Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan attended the seminar.
Delegates discussed almost all the major provisions of the two agreements: the inspection and notification activities, confidence building measures, information exchange and the prospects for the use of an information communication network between the States to the agreements, as well as the activities of the Joint Control Group.
"The rapprochement of our countries was dictated by the desire to maintain and develop good neighbourly and friendly relations and strengthen security and cooperation between our countries which undoubtedly was an important contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the region, the press-service quoted Kazakh deputy defence minister Baghdad Maykeyev as saying.
The press service noted that according to the delegates, the meeting allowed them to make a significant contribution to strengthening confidence and security among member states of the Agreements.
The seminar is being held as a result of the decisions made by the heads of the Chinese and joint delegations (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan), adopted at the 25th Session of the Joint Control Group.