SGK Chairman discusses upgrading of ties with Korea during meeting with Park Geun-hye

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Chairman of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia Mr M.Enkhbold paid a courtesy call on the visiting President of the Republic of Korea Ms Park Geun-hye on July 18. The sides considered some issues of economic partnership, aviation relations and cooperation between urban centers. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr Enkhbold expressed gratitude for the successful official talks of the presidents of Mongolia and S.Korea, held Sunday, and his confidence that the visit will be a huge contribution in upgrading bilateral ties and opening a new page in the diplomatic relations. He stated that the results of the 2016 parliamentary elections, in the outcome of which the Mongolian People’s Party has become the ruling power outrunning the incumbent Democratic Party, will not be affecting the relations of Mongolia with the Republic of Korea. In response, Ms Park congratulated Mr Enkhbold for being appointed the Speaker and also the Mongolian government for excellent organization of the ASEM Summit. She emphasized that the deepening people-to-people relations have a key role in establishing favorable conditions for flourishing of cooperation in various sectors. The inter-parliamentary interactions also played as important role, she noted. Noting that the South Korea is the fourth largest partner of Mongolia in trade, Speaker Enkhbold suggested that the two sides should start researches on signing Economic Partnership Agreement. The State Great Khural is willing to launch joint projects in infrastructure, mining, energy and the environment. He expressed happiness with the conduction of regular flights between Ulaanbaatar and Pusan, launched last June 24. It is right to seek approaches to balance the number of seats being issued from both sides, and to allow a fifth freedom traffic right to the Ulaanbaatar-Beijing-Jeju flights, he said. The current Speaker of Mongolian Parliament Enkhbold opened a Seoul Street in Ulaanbaatar in 2000 during his time in the office of the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar. It is important to have an Ulaanbaatar street in Seoul, in order for upgrading of long-time friendly relations between cities of Mongolia and S.Korea, he added. He applauded the establishment of Mongolian Cultural Center in Namyangju city of Korea. Ms President Park Geun-hye suggested that the countries should focus on increasing the trade and investment volume and exploiting the grand opportunities that stand between Mongolia and S.Korea for boosting cooperation in traditional sectors of cooperation, as well as new sectors such as information technology and healthcare. The S.Korean government has been attaching significance in protecting rights of the Mongolian nationals living in S.Korea, she said. “I have enforced 5 times of measures for visa alleviation for foreign nationals, and will continue to put efforts on this”, said Ms Park. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Korea B.Ganbold, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs D.Gankhuyag and the Secretary-General of the Parliament Secretariat B.Boldbaatar and other officials were present from Mongolia’s side.