Putin praises milestone permanent treaty with Mongolia

Putin says Russia, Mongolia could boost turnover through new projects

ULAN BATOR, September 3. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the signing of a new, perpetual friendship treaty with Mongolia opens up prospects for expanding cooperation in all areas, he said at a press conference following negotiations with the President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga.

"First of all, in this extensive package of agreements that has been signed, I’ll highlight the interstate Friendship Agreement," Putin said. "This essential document enshrines the quality and new level of Russian-Mongolian interaction, a comprehensive strategic partnership opening up significant prospects for its further expansion in various directions," he added.

Putin said that he was convinced that the long-standing traditions of friendship and solidarity are a firm foundation for the development of Russian-Mongolian relations. He agreed with his Mongolian counterpart that the negotiations were informative and constructive. Putin added that the parties discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, and exchanged views on pressing international and regional issues.

The Russian president has described cooperation between Moscow and Ulan Bator in the fight against terrorism and military-technical cooperation between the two countries as an important factor in ensuring security in Asia.

"We discussed in detail the prospects for defense, military-technical and counter-terrorism cooperation between our countries," Putin said following talks with Mongolia’s President Khaltmaagiin Battulga. "We consider cooperation in this area to be a major factor in ensuring security in Asia."

He recalled that the two countries had held joint military drills in Mongolia in August, adding that "this practice will be continued."

According to the head of state, Russia and Mongolia see eye to eye on many pressing regional and global issues or have similar stances on them. He noted that Moscow and Ulan Bator coordinated their actions at multilateral platforms, including the UN. Trilateral cooperation between Russia, Mongolia and China is expanding as well.

"We welcome Mongolia’s desire to establish closer contacts with the Eurasian Economic Union," Putin added. "We believe that this cooperation will have a positive effect on trade and investment cooperation between our countries."

Prospects for bilateral trade

Russia and Mongolia can significantly boost bilateral trade, Vladimir Putin noted.

"There is every opportunity not only to return to the peak trade indicators of 2012, but to move further, expand bilateral trade exchanges. We will jointly implement new projects, including in the field of infrastructure, in the mining industry, energy, and agriculture," Putin said.

According to him, the Russian-Mongolian fund of investment cooperation will also finance such projects — on Tuesday the Russian Direct Investment Fund concluded an agreement with Mongolian partners on establishing the fund. "I would like to note that the fund will invest mainly in the national currencies of our countries," Putin said.

He also stated that Rosatom is considering the possibility of creating a nuclear science center in Mongolia to use radiation technologies in medicine, industry, agriculture, and other areas.

General outlook on relations with Mongolia 

Congratulating the Mongolian nation on the 80th anniversary of the victory of Soviet and Mongolian troops in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, the Russian president pledged that Russia would do everything possible to establish a real strategic partnership with Mongolia.

"We value the neighborly and time-tested relations with Mongolia. Russian-Mongolian cooperation is steadily developing, covering various areas. This has been confirmed at today’s talks, during which we have discussed various important bilateral issues, outlining the frontiers of our cooperation in the future," Putin told an official reception.

"There is a Mongolian saying: you get to know a horse when you ride, and you get to know a man when you become his friend. I would like to stress that we are genuinely proud of our friendship and brotherly relations with Mongolia and its people, and we will do everything so that Russian-Mongolian relations become a comprehensive strategic partnership," the Russian leader said.

For his part, Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga stressed the importance of the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, expressing his hope that the relations will reach a new level.

The Battles of Khalkhin Gol took place in May-September of 1939. Back then, Soviet-Mongolian troops defeated the Japanese military units that invaded the Mongolian People's Republic.