Putin's Visit To Mongolia Focusing On Economic Cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Mongolia on September 3 for talks with President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on September 2 that the discussions will focus on trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ushakov said Russia is Mongolia's second-biggest trade partner after China.

But he said bilateral trade dropped by almost 16 percent in 2013 to $1.6 billion and by another 13 percent in the first half of this year.

Ushakov said that 13 documents are expected to be signed during Putin’s visit, including a deal on the modernization of the Ulan Bator railway.

The Russian delegation will include a number of ministers, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak, and Transportation Minister Maksim Sokolov.

Source:http://www.rferl.org/