Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. On May 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg held official talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi, who is paying an official visit to Mongolia.

Highlighting that the Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit is being implemented in the framework of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Japan - the country’s ‘Third Neighbor’ that shares common democratic values, Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg expressed her confidence that the visit will further the two countries’ strategic partnership relations and boost bilateral cooperation.

In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi noted his satisfaction for designating the year of 2022 as the 'Year of Friendship and Exchange of Mongolian and Japanese Children and Youth’ on the occasion of the historic anniversary of Mongolia-Japan diplomatic relations, and affirmed the Japanese Government’s willingness to continue to expand and strengthen strategic partnership relations with Mongolia.

Minister B.Battsetseg expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for consistently supporting Mongolia’s democracy, reforms, and stable development since the early 1990s as well as for providing assistance and support in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic difficulties. 

Noting that a multi-pillar economy is currently necessary for the country’s future development, the Minister conveyed the Government’s interest in introducing Japanese advanced technology and know-how, and attracting investment and financing in key economic sectors reflected in the ‘New Revival Policy’. She then mentioned opportunities to cooperate with the side of Japan in establishing a free economic zone and a satellite city in Khushig Valley, and constructing a hydrogen power plant based on brown coal. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg then highlighted that the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement has begun to yield certain results such as the increase in bilateral trade turnover in recent years, and put forth a suggestion to have the corresponding sub-committee convene in order to accelerate the agreement’s implementation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed his support for the One Billion Trees movement initiated by the President of Mongolia, and informed that studies are being carried out on possible ways to provide support and cooperate in its framework. He then highlighted the country’s willingness to develop cooperation in the environmental sector as a core part of the Mongolia-Japan Strategic Partnership.

During the talks, the sides exchanged views on mutual high-level visits to be implemented in the near future, and agreed to strengthen strategic partnership relations in sectors such as politics, trade, economy, agriculture, culture, education, defense, and consular affairs. 

They also noted their satisfaction with publicly introducing the evaluation of the medium-term program that was implemented to strengthen the Mongolia-Japan Strategic Partnership for 2017-2021, and agreed to hold thorough discussions on both sides in order to reflect content based on mutually-beneficial cooperation in the program to be implemented for 2022-2026.

As the two countries have actively cooperated on regional and international platforms, the two sides affirmed their commitment to continue to closely cooperate in strengthening stability in the North East Asian region alongside deepening cooperation in the framework of international organizations such as the United Nations. 

Following the official talks, the two countries’ Foreign Ministers signed an Exchange of Notes on the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Program. Since its launch in Mongolia in 2001, 360 Mongolian personnel have been involved in graduate programs at Japanese universities and colleges. This year, the Government of Japan has made the decision to provide JPY 263 million in financing for the program.