FOREIGN MINISTER IS IN S.KOREA

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia L.Bold on Monday started a working visit to the Republic of Korea. He has shared views on the bilateral relations and cooperation with Kim Sung-hwan, the S.Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Ang Hong-jung, the National Assembly's Standing committee head on foreign affairs and security; Lee Chang-se, a head of the Immigration Service; and authorities of the Halla Corporation. During these meetings, the Minister expressed a willingness of Mongolia to develop the sustainable and mutually-beneficial comprehensive partnership relations with the Republic of Korea, to introduce to Mongolia its hi tech into the biggest projects on great construction, and to cooperate in attracting investments from the largest companies. The Foreign Minister noted that the sides are actively collaborating in implementing the Asian Partnership Initiative for Democracy, co-initiated by the Presidents of the two countries, and in various measures in frames of the Community of Democracies (CoD). He invited Mr Kim to the 7th Ministerial Conference of the CoD which will run in April of 2013 in Mongolia. The sides agreed to continue the cooperation in ensuring of the peace and security in Northeast Asia and in developing the cooperation of regional countries. On behalf of Mongolia, Mr Bold congratulated the Republic of Korea on being elected the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. As the two countries agreed to boost their cooperation in a green development at a high level, the Minister said Mongolia wants to join the World Green Institute (WGI) established at initiative of South Korea. While meeting with a head of the Immigration Service Mr Lee, the Minister L.Bold noted about an agreement established between the governments on facilitating the visa terms, which came into force on October 26, 2012, and hoped that this agreement will improve the mutual travels and develop the economic cooperation. However, some problems are still persistent, for example, the S.Korean side always demands that the Mongolians place some money or a pledge in a commercial bank when applying for a visa, “and this contradicts a key purpose of this agreement,” L.Bold said and requested the S.Koreans to look at the rules again. In response, the S.Korean promised to share opinions with related bodies and to solve this problem. In addition, Mr Bold emphasized that a protection of the abroad-Mongolians interests is in a center of Mongolian government's attention, and requested S.Korea's side to focus attention on solving requests of the Mongolian family whose member died in a detention house in S.Korea. After the meetings, the Minister got au fait with activities of the One-Point Center at Mongolia's Embassy in the Republic of Korea. B.Khuder