MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and Kazakhstan will expand military ties and the arms trade, Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko said opening the sixth session of the bilateral inter-governmental commission.
Khristenko proposed that a sub-commission should be set up to deal with the issues.
The two countries maintain "a high level of bilateral ties in all sectors of the economy" including space exploration. Long- term cooperation programs are being implemented in the economy, border protection, science and technology as well as humanitarian issues, he said.
Russia has remained Kazakhstan's leading trade partner, he said. Interest in Kazakh goods has increased, he said.
In 2001, bilateral turnover grew by 6% and reached $5 billion. Kazakhstan accounts for about 20% of Russia's trade with CIS countries, he said.
Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Karim Masimov co-chairs the commission. sa rm