Japan-Mongolia Joint Press Release

15 February 2001

1. Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia, in response to an invitation from the Japanese Government, visited Japan from 13 February 2001. During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Enkhbayar was received in audience by His Majesty The Emperor of Japan on 16 February. In addition, he also met with Yutaka Inoue, President of the House of Councillors, and Tamisuke Watanuki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on 14 February, and held talks with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on 15 February.
2. At the beginning of the meeting between Prime Minister Mori and Prime Minister Enkhbayar, Prime Minister Mori welcomed Prime Minister Enkhbayar to Japan on behalf of the Japanese Government and the Japanese people. In response, Prime Minister Enkhbayar stated that he considered relations between his new administration and the Japanese Government to be extremely important, which is why he had chosen Japan to be the country of his first official foreign visit. He also thanked Prime Minister Mori for the warm welcome he had been shown, and said that he hoped to take the opportunity of this visit to develop a stable and long-term friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries.
   
   Prime Minister Enkhbayar stated that democratization and reform in Mongolia had firmly taken root, and the new administration hoped to achieve great success with their plans for democratization and reform. In response, Prime Minister Mori expressed his satisfaction that, in recent years, relations between the two countries had strengthened, based on the universal values of democracy, freedom, and basic human rights, and stated that the Japanese Government was committed to continuously supporting Mongolia's reforms. Both leaders confirmed their desire to work even harder to establish a comprehensive partnership between the two countries through mutual understanding and trust.
3. Prime Minister Mori expressed his sympathy for the severe blizzard disaster which has afflicted Mongolia, and stated that Japan intends to propose a mid- to long-term cooperation package in order to cope with the damage wreaked by the blizzard disaster. Regarding the blizzard disaster, Prime Minister Enkhbayar offered his sincere condolences regarding the two NHK reporters who perished in the recent helicopter crash, and expressed his gratitude for the emergency assistance for blizzard damage provided by the Japanese Government and the Japanese private sector.
4. Both leaders welcomed the fact that, through the efforts of both sides, they were able to sign an investment agreement between the two countries, and they shared the opinion that such an agreement would contribute to the expansion of economic exchange between the two countries. In addition, both leaders agreed on the holding of the "Mongolia Exhibition" in Japan in October 2001, in order to help expand the trade relationship between the two countries.
5. In connection with the exchange of notes regarding the provision of yen loans to the Rehabilitation Project of the Fourth Thermal Power Station in Ulaanbaatar and the implementation of cultural grant aid for the supply of printing equipment to the National University of Mongolia, both leaders confirmed the importance of Japanese assistance towards Mongolian economic and social development.
   
   Prime Minister Mori stated that, in order to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of economic cooperation projects towards Mongolia, he intended to formulate a Country Assistance Plan for Mongolia sometime during FY2002, and was making preparations for the start of negotiations for the signing of a technical cooperation agreement. Prime Minister Enkhbayar evaluated this intention highly, and agreed to the opening of negotiations.
   
   Both leaders confirmed the importance of exchanges among youth in promoting mutual understanding, and expressed the hope that exchange students would make important contributions to nation-building efforts in Mongolia. In connection with this, Prime Minister Mori stated his intention to make effective use of Japanese financial cooperation and to consider the provision of aid to increase the number of Mongolian students accepted. Prime Minister Enkhbayar expressed his appreciation for Japan's attitude towards aid to Mongolia.
6. Both leaders shared the recognition that it would be important to strengthen the functions of the UN in order that it can satisfactorily fulfill its role. In particular, regarding UN Security Council reforms, based on the awareness that the majority of countries in the international community support the expansion of seats for both permanent and non-permanent members, they expressed their intention to actively cooperate towards the early realization of reforms such that the number of seats on the Security Council would be increased to 24. Furthermore, Prime Minister Enkhbayar reaffirmed his support for Japan to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, in order that it could more actively contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, and play a role appropriate to its position in international community.
7. Prime Minister Enkhbayar expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of this visit, and invited Prime Minister Mori to make an official visit to Mongolia at his earliest convenience. Prime Minister Mori acknowledged the invitation with appreciation.