Defense Minister Says China Wants More Cooperation With Central Asia
China wants to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan on building military trust and reducing border forces, Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian said Thursday.
Speaking at the annual five-nation meeting of defense ministers, Chi said that cooperation in this field plays a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
He said China is willing to cooperate with the four countries in joint fight against separatism, extremism and cross-border terrorism to ensure stability in the region.
The ministers signed a joint communique after the meeting. The defense ministers from the five countries have held annual meetings since a series of border troop reduction agreements were reached at a 1996 summit in Shanghai.
China wants to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan on building military trust and reducing border forces, Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian said Thursday.
