President Ts.Elbegdorj starts official visit to France

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Mongolia’s leader Ts.Elbegdorj started Wednesday the official visit to the French Republic. Coincided with the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, this event is the first foreign visit to France at a State Head level after the serial terrorist attacks which took place last Friday in Paris. Mr Elbegdorj was officially welcomed by high officials headed by Ms Martine Pinville, the Secretary of State in charge of Trade, Crafts and Social Solidarity Economy. Present were also L.Purevsuren, Mongolian Minister of Foreign Affairs; M.Batsaikhan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to France; D.Erdenebat MP, the Minister of Industry; A.Battor, an advisor to the President on security and foreign policy; also Elisabeth Barsacq, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Mongolia; a head of the Guards of Honor of Paris and Protocol Department. Mr Elbegdorj paid tribute to the state flag of France, then, the two national anthems owere played. After this, the President received Mr Gerard Larcher, the president of the French Senate (upper house of parliament) at the Palace of Senate. Mr Larcher thanked the Mongolian President for visiting France in difficult time after the tragic event in Paris, and underlined that this is the very first meeting held between the Mongolian President and Senate president of France "since Mongolia declared its independence in 1911". The bilateral cooperation have been expanding in agriculture, energy and culture, he noted. In reponse, the President expressed a satisfaction with a meeting with the Senate president of France and said the Mongolia-France ties have been widening in spheres of mining, agriculture, defense and tourism and also within the multilateral cooperation. Mongolia wants to intensify the collaboration with France in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors, he went on, particularly in improving livestock breeds. He also expressed condolences to France over deaths of many people during the terrorist attacks. After this, the two dignitaries shared views on the bilateral relations and cooperation and international matters of mutual interest. At the end of the meeting, the President conveyed an invitation of the Speaker of Mongolian parliament Z.Enkhbold to Mr Larcher to visit Mongolia.