Armenia’s capital is hosting an international exhibition of arms and defense technologies, bringing together high-ranking officials from Armenia and member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Tert.am reports.

Special detachment troops marked the opening of ArmHiTech-2016, which features military-technical products of 50 companies representing nine states.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan, CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha and ambassadors accredited to Armenia.

Armored tanks and rocket missile armaments are central items on display.

Launched on Thursday, October 13, the exhibition will run through October 15.

Addressing the attendees, the CSTO chief said the Organization needs to step up efforts towards guaranteeing a higher level of security for the member states.

Bordyuzha called for more effective work to fight back challenges.

“[Our] efforts are largely directed to political methods of security building, which implies the use of the political potential in our countries. But the logic of developments prompts an absolutely different scenario, urging us to strengthen our [armed forces’] potential,” he said.

Bordyuzha added that the member states are now developing a close collaboration, creating military bases near CSTO borders.

He stressed the importance of supplying the countries with modern technical-military equipment to increase their efficiency against mounting challenges.

“The CSTO Council is doing everything possible to ensure the military-political and economic-military cooperation among its member states,” he added.

Also, Burduzha cited holding the exhibition in Armenia as a good opportunity to highlight close technical-military partnership and the existing potential to develop more powerful weaponry.

“This kind of exhibition is the first ever in Armenia, so I am hopeful it will be a new trend for the country,” he said.