ALMATY (IRNA) -- Iran's ambassador to Astana and the Kazakh minister of defense in a meeting on Saturday stressed the need for expansion of bilateral defense cooperation.

Ramin Memhanparast in his meeting with Daniyal Akhmetov also conveyed the congratulatory message of Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohamad-Najjar to Akhmetov on his appointment to the post as minister of defense.

Mehamanparast also presented a report on bilateral political, economic and cultural relations.

He also called for development of mutual defense relations including exchange of military experiences in the near future.

Expressing his pleasure with the development of commercial relations which stood at $2b last year (2006), Akhmetov stressed his country's readiness for military cooperation with Iran.

Akhmetov said that Kazakhstan is to appoint a military attache in Tehran by 2008 for the purpose of upgrading mutual military cooperation.

The Kazakh defense minister also welcomed his Iranian counterpart's invitation to visit Tehran.

Akhmetov who was appointed as defense minister in 2007, had served as prime minister of Kazakhstan in the last 3.5 years.