PRESIDENT STARTS A VISIT TO SWEDEN

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ After the Kingdom of Norway, the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj started on Wednesday his official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden. On the first day of the visit, the State Head held a meeting with Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, introducing him to present political and socio-economic situation in Mongolia. The President said he is satisfied with the bilateral traditional and friendly relations and cooperation. "Opening our Embassy in Stockholm is an expression of attaching an importance to the relations and cooperation with Sweden," he underlined, adding that Mongolia wants to attract investments from Sweden and to introduce in the country its eco-technologies. Mentioning that Mongolia wants to become a participant state of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the President hoped that the Mongolia-Sweden ties and collaboration will widen in frames of the Mongolia-European Union (EU) cooperation. He said loans and assistance given by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) have significantly contributed to development of specific sectors in Mongolia in times of a transition, and added Mongolia aims to introduce the European standards and to study the Swedish experience in strengthening good governance, ensuring human rights and combating a corruption. In turn, Mr Reinfeldt congratulated Mongolia on gaining big success in ensuring human rights and freedom, strengthening of the democracy and combating a corruption. "The economic ties between our countries increased three times in one year, it means a future of the bilateral economic relations is bright," Mr Reinfeldt said and supported the collaboration in the above spheres. He also said Swedish side has a willingness to develop a collaboration with Mongolia in the communication and infrastructure sectors. "Mongolia has managed to strengthen its democracy, even became an example of democracy in its region, and we highly appreciate Mongolia for realizing works to spread the education for democracy," Mr Reinfeldt stressed. During the meeting, the State Head said Mongolia wants to learn the Swedish experience in renewable energy, hydropower station and wind farming, and requested Mr Reinfeldt to give a support in preparing professionals. Then the dignitaries shared views on regional and international issues. B.Khuder