Meeting between Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Mongolia Gombojavyn Zandanshatar

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of Government Council meeting.

Mikhail Mishustin:

Mr Zandanshatar,

First of all, I would like to ask you to convey greetings and best wishes to President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh from President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, and from me personally.

Mongolia is our strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Our relationship is founded on a long-standing tradition of friendship and mutual support between the peoples of Russia and Mongolia.

The negotiations between President Vladimir Putin and Mr Khürelsükh on 7 May in Moscow and 2 September in Beijing confirmed our shared interest in further deepening multifaceted Russian-Mongolian cooperation. Through our governments, we are creating favourable conditions to advance strategic projects, primarily in energy, industry, transport, and culture.

Our Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation is functioning actively. It is chaired by our Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov. We await the appointment of a new co-chair from the Mongolian side. Subject to your agreement on the date, we propose holding the Commission's next meeting in Ulaanbaatar before the end of the year.

We are strengthening cultural cooperation and assisting Mongolia in training its national personnel. Over 70,000 Mongolian citizens have graduated from Russian higher and secondary educational institutions. It is particularly pleasing that you, Mr Prime Minister, are one such representative. We consider it important to expand the teaching of the Russian language in Mongolia.

We regularly hold Days of Culture and Days of Russian-Mongolian Friendship, conduct joint research expeditions, and are expanding our contacts in sport.

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of our Great Victory over German Nazism and Japanese militarism. The joint participation of President Vladimir Putin and Mr Khürelsükh in the commemorative events in May in Moscow and in September in Beijing has become a new symbol of friendship and a reminder of the shared historical memory of the peoples of Russia and Mongolia.

Mr Zandanshatar, the floor is yours.

Gombojavyn Zandanshatar (via interpreter): Mr Mishustin, I am delighted to accept your invitation to participate in the expanded meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Member States and in this personal meeting with you.

First, I would like to state that Mongolia is committed to developing equitable relations with the Russian Federation, as well as to a comprehensive strategic partnership between our countries. We will work towards this end.

This year has seen numerous highest- and high-level ceremonial events. These include the event marking the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, in which the President of Mongolia participated, while I personally took part in the Eastern Economic Forum and met with President Vladimir Putin.

All agreements at the level of our heads of state are of the utmost importance, and we will do everything to ensure they are implemented in practice. We will pay particular attention to working very closely in this direction.

I would like to address the following issues of bilateral cooperation.

First, trade and economic relations; second, the transport sector; third, the energy sector; fourth, geology and mining; fifth, agriculture; sixth, trilateral cooperation between Mongolia, Russia, and China; as well as other matters.

You also mentioned that we marked the 80^th anniversary of Victory over fascism and our joint victory in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol.