FOREIGN MINISTER D.TSOGTBAATAR PAYS A VISIT TO JAPAN

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/ Foreign Affairs Minister D.Tsogtbaatar is paying an official visit to Japan from February 21.The visit aimed at intensifying economic relations and increase trade and investment, especially in supporting SMEs and ensuring Mongolia’s export to the Japanese market, based on high-level political relations. The Foreign Minister held official talks with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and met M.Hayashi, head from the Mongolia-Japan Friendship Group in Japanese Parliament, H.Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, K.Kato, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and Sh.Suzuki, Minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Moreover, he met authorities of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to exchange views on Mongolia-Japan relations and cooperation. During the official talks, D.Tsogtbaatar affirmed that Mongolia is attaching an importance to relations developing with Japan, Mongolia’s ‘third neighbor’ and a close strategic partner, which shares common values to esteem democracy and human rights and freedom. The sides dialogued to constantly implement ‘A medium-term Strategic Partnership Program between Mongolia and Japan (2017-2021)' and ‘Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)’ and deepen Mongolia-Japan relations in a wide-range of sectors including politics, defense, economy, trade, culture and education. The Mongolian side thanked the Japanese government and people for their generous supports to Mongolia for strengthening its democracy and building market economy. Within the frameworks of the Extended Fund Facility arrangement of the International Monetary Fund and Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), the Japanese government renders supports. In this regard, Japanese Foreign Minister T.Kono reported that Japanese government decided to formulate a Master Plan to develop a value-added production in Mongolia’s agricultural sector from next spring. D.Tsogtbaatar requested Japanese side to implement the 3rd phase of Two-Step-Loan Project for Small and Medium-Scaled Enterprises Development and Environmental Protection, implemented with soft loan of Japanese Government. The sides expressed commitment to implement persistently a ‘Memorandum of Cooperation on the Technical Intern Training Program', established between Labor Ministries of the two countries with a purpose to build a capacity of skilled personnel, which is urgently needed in Mongolia’s sustainable socio-economic development. Minister D.Tsogtbaatar underlined an importance of starting works from today for creating conditions which will enable citizens of the two countries to travel without visa in the future. The sides agreed to create a consultative mechanism between Consular Offices of the Foreign Ministries on facilitating travel conditions and protecting interests of citizens, and develop cooperation. Minister D.Tsogtbaatar highlighted the importance of increasing Mongolian export in the bilateral trade turnover and supporting SMEs when he met Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry H.Seko. Minister Seko affirmed to fully support it. They agreed to accelerate the EPA implementation. Moreover, JBIC’s CEO, Executive Managing Director T.Maeda expressed its willingness to support SMEs of the two countries and invest in large strategic projects. During the meeting between Minister D.Tsogtbaatar and JICA authorities, the Japanese side expressed the significance of the bilateral policy consultative meeting on ODA issues to be held in Ulaanbaatar in March. The sides confirmed their intention of starting operation of the new airport of Ulaanbaatar city as soon as possible. M.Unurzul