Kazakhstan, Astana, Oct. 12 /Trend, A.Maratov /
The U.S. State of Kansas intends to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan, in particular in trade-economic and agricultural development, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who is on a visit to Astana, said.
"I'm in Kazakhstan to discuss new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between our countries," he said following a meeting with Kazakh Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev.
He said the issue of the world food security will rise sharply in the next 30 years.
"Kansas could contribute to the development of agriculture in Kazakhstan and bring its technology here. In addition, we could help in the field of aircraft construction," Brownback said.
Such interaction will be conducted within the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States, which entered into force in July.
The University of Kansas and the Kazakh Agro-Technical University signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2008. The memorandum, he said, also promotes the active use of innovation and American technology in the agricultural sector in Kazakhstan.
Brownback visited Astana to participate in the International Forum "For a Nuclear-Free World" opened today.
Kazakhstan's denial of nuclear weapons served as a good example to the world, he said.
"When Kazakhstan became an independent country and adopted a decision to refuse from nuclear weapons and arsenal, many countries were grateful. It is very important, especially now when some countries continue to work on nuclear weapons," he said.
"Kazakhstan can rightly be called the leader of the antinuclear movement in the world," he noted.
Following the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan inherited the world's fourth largest nuclear capabilities. The USSR's biggest areas in testing, space and nuclear test sites - Emba, Sary-Shagan, Baikonur and Semipalatinsk were located throughout the country.
After gaining independence, Kazakhstan refused Russian nuclear warheads. In 1996, the country acceded to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Kazakhstan celebrates the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Semipalatinsk test site in 2011.
