PRIME MINISTER CALLS COURTESY CALL TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ With a working visit to the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister of Mongolia Mr Ch.Saikhanbileg was received Thursday by Mr Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, in Saint Petersburg. At the meeting, the dignitaries touched upon several issues and reached some agreements. They have concurred to do work for improving profits of Mongolia-Russia joint ventures, for example, they have agreed to tackle some issues of railways. The two sides have reached an agreement on changing the Russian shareholder of the “Erdenet” Mining Corporation, therefore the Russian President asked the Mongolian side to start talks on it prior to adjourning of the parliamentary session of Mongolia. The Russian side has accepted proposals of Mongolia about letting directors of the joint ventures make their independent decisions regarding economic issues and promoting powers of the general directors. Urgently resolving these matters will contribute to augmenting of investments to Mongolia and forwarding the biggest projects. The Premier Mr Saikhanbileg asked the Russian President to provide the Mongolian railways with electric lines and to pay attention to a construction of gas pipes through Mongolian territories. Mr Putin said he will support the supplying meat from Mongolia, implementation and continuation of the first-stage program on vaccination of Mongolian livestock as well as the private sector of Mongolia. As of present, Mongolian seven factories have satisfied the condition of receiving the license of exporting meat to Russia. The Russian President promised to resolve problems of a big queue and bureaucracy at the Russian borders and customs. Moreover, he said Russia will support Mongolia-based Russian schools and improve their training program. Present at the meeting were D.Erdenebat, the Minister of Industry; N.Tomorkhuu, the Minister of Road and Transportation; N.Oyundari, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; I.V.Morgulov, the Russian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; A.S.Kolpakov, head of the Presidential Office of Russia; V.I.Yakunin, the president of the Russian Railways Company; S.V.Chemezov, the director-general of the Rosteh Company; and other officials.