Visiting Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Kazakh Defense Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev agreed in Astana Friday to improve the military ties between their countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 13 yeas ago, Sino-Kazakhstan relations have seen smooth development, with their leaders maintaining close contacts, mutual political trust being enhanced and bilateral cooperation yielding fruitful results, Cao said during a meeting with Altynbayev.

Leaders of the two countries agreed in July to promote the relationship between the two nations to a strategic partnership, Cao said, adding that the move showed that the development of bilateral ties has entered a new and important phase.

Cao said his country attaches great importance to developing bilateral military ties and is willing to work together with Kazakhstan to further improve the ties.

The armies of the two countries have conducted good cooperation in such fields as mutual visits of military delegations and personnel training, he noted.

Altynbayev spoke highly of the development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, which he said have carried out good cooperation in international and regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Kazakhstan is willing to work together with China to fight the "three evil forces" -- terrorism, extremism and separatism -- and continue to push forward the development of bilateral military ties.

He added that he is satisfied with the cooperation between the two armies in the fields of defense and security.

Cao arrived in Astana Thursday for a four-day visit to the Central Asian country.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2005)