A meeting of the Joint Control Group was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, to review the implementation of two key security agreements among Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and China. These include the 1996 Agreement on Strengthening Confidence in the Military Field in Border Areas, signed in Shanghai, and the 1997 Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Armed Forces in Border Areas, signed in Moscow, 24.kg reports, citing the Russian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Embassy, both agreements are being fully implemented by all five participating states. The troop levels in the border areas remain below the agreed limits.
The 2025 schedule of mutual inspections is being followed as planned. Information on the quantity and quality of armed forces within 100-kilometer zones on both sides of the borders is exchanged in strict compliance with established procedures.
These long-standing agreements continue to play a crucial role in maintaining regional stability and security, strengthening mutual trust and friendship, and creating a favorable environment for cross-border cooperation.
The original 1996 agreement between China and its four neighboring Central Asian countries laid the groundwork for what later evolved into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Nevertheless, the agreement remains in force as a vital instrument for preserving military transparency and confidence among its signatories.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 17, 2025