MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin has discussed ways to develop bilateral military cooperation with his Sri Lankan counterpart Kithsiri Nemmawatta, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security.

The meeting was held against the backdrop of tragic events in Sri Lanka, where a series of terrorist attacks on April 21 left 321 people dead and more than 500 injured.

"Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin expressed deepest condolences on behalf of the Russian Defense Ministry over the tragedy," the ministry said.

The defense ministry added that after exchanging opinions on issues of bilateral military cooperation, "the sides noted a positive dynamic of expanding Russian-Sri Lankan cooperation in the military sphere and discussed practical steps for its consistent development."

On Tuesday, Fomin also held talks with Kazakhstan's Deputy Defense Minister Talgat Mukhtarov. The sides discussed progress in implementing joint Russian-Kazakhstani projects in the military sphere and other issues of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation.