Almaty, 11 June 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Kazakhstan's Defence Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev said today his country will expand military ties with China.
Altynbayev made the statement after talks with his Chinese counterpart Chi Haotian, who is in Kazakhstan on a six-day visit.
Altynbayev said that China is to offer Kazakhstan boats for patrolling on the Caspian Sea and that Kazakh officers will learn Chinese to improve military relations on the Chinese-Kazakh border.
Chi's tour, which will include a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, follows the April signing of an accord between China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. The accord aims to reduce troops along the 7,300 kilometer border of China and the former Soviet Union.
Altynbayev made the statement after talks with his Chinese counterpart Chi Haotian, who is in Kazakhstan on a six-day visit.
Altynbayev said that China is to offer Kazakhstan boats for patrolling on the Caspian Sea and that Kazakh officers will learn Chinese to improve military relations on the Chinese-Kazakh border.
Chi's tour, which will include a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, follows the April signing of an accord between China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. The accord aims to reduce troops along the 7,300 kilometer border of China and the former Soviet Union.