JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN MONGOLIA AND JAPAN

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The President of Mongolia, Ts Elbegdorj paid a state visit to Tokyo from15 to 19 November by the invitation of the Government of Japan.
Main legs of the visit were a visit to the Emperor of Japan, meetings with a chairman of the House of Representatives of Japanese Parliament Takahiro Yokomichi, head of the House of Councilors Takeo Nishioka, and a speech at the plenary session of parliament. The President Ts.Elbegdorj and the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan held official talks, which resulted in issuing a a joint statement.
After the transition of Mongolia to the democracy and market economy, Mongolia and Japan, based on common democratic values to develop friendly relations, declared a common foreign policy goal to boost bilateral relations on the basis of a comprehensive partnership in 1997.
The two sides commended cooperation in all fields, including at regional and international levels. The sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the specific results achieved through the joint efforts in the development of comprehensive partnership relations on the basis of the Programme of the Mongolian-Japanese cooperation in the next 10 years, which was signed by leaders of the two countries in February 2007.
With a view to bring bilateral relations to a more qualitative level, the parties have put forward a new task--to conclude a strategic partnership, which is a new era for the Mongolian-Japanese relations. This becomes the most important event in strengthening not only mutually beneficial and respectful of each other's friendship, but also in the interaction in solving urgent problems scope of which covers a wide range of issues in the Asian region and international community.
When entering into a strategic partnership, sides are to unanimously agree to note the need for enhanced cooperation in all sectors, including the intensification of the dialogue at the highest levels on economic and cultural ties and strengthening a cooperation of global and regional importance. Noting the need to increase the frequency of mutual visits, the two sides stressed the importance of continuing the organization of regional and multilateral meetings at the highest levels and confirmed mutual interest in the annual negotiations of foreign Ministers of both the countries.
In order to use its mineral resources, Mongolian side considered as important to cooperate with Japan, which has advanced technology and rich experience in this area, and reiterated that it is ready to actively support the participation of the private sector of Japan in major projects for the development of minerals. The Japanese side has gratefully accepted this position of Mongolia and expressed a confidence that it will take concrete measures to improve the investment environment in its mining industry.
Development of mutually beneficial cooperation in mineral resources in the interests of both countries and because of this, sides have found as necessary to develop this cooperation at the strategic level.
The Mongolian side expressed its interest in engaging the private sector in Japan to the creation of the transport infrastructure necessary for development of the mining industry in Mongolia. In connection with this proposal, the Japanese side stressed that it would fully support and encourage the activities of its private sector in the strategy of the new development.
The sides noted the importance of a mutual desire to promote the process of concluding the Economic Partnership Agreement with a view to deepening trade and economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. Japan's official development assistance for the development has played a decisive role in shaping democracy in Mongolia and in the process of transition to market economy and has made an important contribution to the sustainable development of present-day Mongolia.
The Japanese side stated that it will continue to lend its support to the development of Mongolia. With this regard, it has expressed an appreciation for the signing at the request of the Government of Mongolia exchange notes on the provision of second line of credit for a two-stage project to develop small- and medium-manufacturing and environmental protection.
The Mongolian side expressed its interest in active cooperation in the field of electricity, which was gladly accepted by the Japanese side, which, in its turn, stressed its readiness to expand relations in the energy field. In addition, the Mongolian side expressed its hope that Japan will increase the number of Mongolian students to study in Japan. In order to promote exchanges between citizens on the strategic principle Japan would take about a thousand students from Mongolia.
In 2012, Mongolia and Japan will mark the 40 th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, paving the parties an opportunity to further strengthen the friendly relations and mutual understanding.
Also they agreed on the issue of reform in the Security Council of UN. The parties noted appropriate to increase the number of its permanent members. The Japanese side expressed its readiness to continue its position in supporting the candidacy of Mongolia to become a permanent and non-permanent member of the National Security Council of the UN.
The Japanese side highly appreciated the active work of Mongolia to counter the negative effects of climate change. Both sides agreed in the view that the Six-Party Talks are a mechanism in giving the Korean peninsula nuclear-free status under the supervision of the international community and have an impact on peace and stability in Northeast Asia in the future.
The Mongolian side expressed its desire to accede to the mechanism of the Asia-Pacific region and of multilateral cooperation in East Asia, and hoped for support from the Japanese side in this matter. Understanding the desire and aspiration of Mongolia, the parties agreed to exchange views in this regard.
S.Otgonbayar