Hungarian, Mongolian PMs discuss ways to strengthen economic ties

Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and his Mongolian counterpart Batbold Sukhbaatar discussed how to increase economic cooperation and strengthen ties between the two countries on Wednesday in Budapest.

The meeting coincided with the 60th anniversary of the two countries' establishment of diplomatic relations.

Batbold, on his first foreign trip since becoming prime minister in late 2009, said it was extremely important for Mongolia to build ties with the European Union.

Bajnai said the Hungarian border-crossing point of Zahony on its eastern boundary with Ukraine could serve as an entry point for Mongolian goods entering the European Union. To build trade links between the two countries, a Mongolian Trade and Information Center was set up in Budapest in 2005.

The Hungarian PM announced that Hungary would provide technical advice to Mongolia on trading with the European Union, as well as financial support in the fields of animal health and animal rearing technology.

Bajnai also said Hungary would provide a Mongolian food producer with a low-interest loan of 25 million U.S. dollars.

Bajnai added that Hungary would keep Mongolia's interests in mind when the Central European country takes over the EU presidency during the first half of 2011.

Batbold also had a short meeting with Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom on Wednesday.

Batbold will conclude his visit on Friday.

Batbold met with the Austrian chancellor when visiting Vienna on March 8-9, as well as representatives of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other multilateral organizations.

Source:People's Daily Online (english.people.com)