Kazakhstan, Astana, March 19 / Trend A. Maratov /
Russia and Kazakhstan's defense ministers signed a strategic partnership and cooperation plan in Astana on Friday, the Kazakh Defense Ministry said.
Military cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan has been continued since 1994.
"One of the most important directions of cooperation is joint military exercises carried out by the two countries' armed forces," the ministry said.
Last year three joint exercises were held. They included: operational-tactical command staff exercise of the Regional Command South with the participation of the Operative Group of the Russian Armed Forces; two large-scale exercises within the international organizations - they include joint antiterrorist exercises of the armed forces of the SCO member states "Peace Mission-2010 "on the Kazakh territory; joint operational-tactical exercises "Cooperation-2010" was held in the territory of Russia with a military contingent of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force.
Three joint exercises are also scheduled this year, the Defense Ministry said.