Press Releases
Japan-Mongolia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
March 4, 2025
On March 4, commencing at 6:25 p.m. Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting and a working dinner with H.E. Ms. Batmunkh BATTSETSEG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. The overview is as follows. On the occasion of this meeting, the two foreign ministers held an exchange ceremony and signed the Exchanges of Notes regarding the FY 2024 two grant aid programme on the “Economic and Social Development Programme” (Grant Aid for the Provision of Equipment for Monitoring Air Pollution and Grant Aid for the Provision of Sewerage Management Equipment) to Mongolia.
- Minister Iwaya stated that it is increasingly important for Japan and Mongolia, which share fundamental values, to strengthen cooperation and coordination as “special strategic partners for peace and prosperity”, and that he would like to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordination towards solving global challenges under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. In response, Foreign Minister BATTSETSEG stated that she would like to continue to work closely together to further deepen the “special strategic partnership” with Japan, which is among “the third neighboring countries”.
- Minister Iwaya expressed his hope that the visit to Mongolia by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, which is being coordinated for the first half of July, will further promote friendly relationships between the two countries, and that he would seek cooperation in order to ensure that all preparations for the visit are to be carried out thoroughly to the highest standard. In response, Minister BATTSETSEG stated that the visit of Their Majesties is an extremely important visit for Mongolia, and it is making thorough preparations to ensure its success while the Mongolian people are eagerly awaiting it.
- The two foreign ministers welcomed the progress in concrete cooperation based on the “Action Plan” through the efforts of both sides. The two foreign ministers confirmed that they would promote related cooperation in the political and security fields, based on the entry into force of the the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and the decision to provide support through the OSAs (Official Development Assistance for Security Capacity Building), and also confirmed that they would continue to accumulate practical cooperation in the economic field, such as promoting the utilization of the EPA. In addition, Minister Iwaya expressed his intention to continue to cooperate on the expansion of the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, which is a new symbol of cooperation between the two countries. In response, Minister BATTSETSEG expressed her gratitude. Furthermore, Minister Iwaya stated that, based on the shared understanding that the foundation of all relations and cooperation between the two leaders is “people”, Japan will continue to develop human resources through ODA and other means, and will also promote exchanges between young people of both countries through programs such as JENESYS and the Japan-Mongolia Student Forum. In response, Minister BATTSETSEG expressed the Mongolian government's desire to further promote human exchanges, including regional exchanges.
- In addition, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on global issues and welcomed the development of cooperation on global issues, including Japan's cooperation through exchange involving tree planting towards Mongolia's “One Billion Tree” National Campaign. They also exchanged views on regional situations, including the situation in North Korea and Ukraine. Minister Iwaya once again requested Mongolia's understanding and cooperation on the abductions issue and gained her favor.