Visit to Japan of Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Prime Minister of Mongolia
(Summary and Evaluation)

February 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Summary

(1) Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia, in response to an invitation from the Japanese Government, visited Japan with his wife from 13 to 18 February, 2001. During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Enkhbayar, was received, along with his wife, in audience by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan, and held a leaders' meeting with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, after which the two leaders released a joint statement to the press. In addition, Prime Minister Enkhbayar energetically performed a variety of duties, including paying a courtesy call on the President of the House of Councillors and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, attending a welcome banquet held by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, and attending the signing ceremony for an investment agreement.

(2) In addition, immediately after arriving in Japan, Prime Minister Enkhbayar visited NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), where he offered his condolences to NHK President Katsuji Ebisawa as well as the families of the NHK staff members who perished in the helicopter accident while participating in the blizzard disaster survey organized by the United Nations.

(3) Prime Minister Enkhbayar also worked to deepen exchange in a variety of forms, including delivering a lecture to Keidanren, participating in a welcome reception sponsored by various friendship organizations, observing the Uransenke tea ceremony, and making a visit to Gifu Prefecture.

2. General Evaluation

Although this visit was Prime Minister Enkhbayar's first visit to a foreign country, his visit conveyed a message, both domestically and internationally, that the new administration in Mongolia was committed to democratization and the shift towards a free market economy, and that Japan would maintain its support for his administration. In addition, the leaders of both countries were able to use their first meeting together in the 21st century in order to further facilitate friendly and cooperative relations based upon the "Comprehensive Partnership" between Japan and Mongolia.

3. Major Results

(1) At the leaders' meeting which took place on 15 February, both sides reaffirmed their intention to establish a "Comprehensive Partnership" between the two countries in the 21st century, and clearly communicated the message, both domestically and abroad, that Mongolia was committed to democratization and reforms, and that Japan was also committed to supporting such reforms.

(2) Regarding blizzard disaster assistance, based on a UN report which stated that such harsh blizzards could possibly occur for two consecutive years, and that six million head of livestock could be destroyed, Japan announced its intention to provide approximately 300 million yen worth of supplementary emergency assistance, in addition to the approximately 1 billion yen worth of emergency assistance implemented last October, and the Mongolian side expressed its sincere gratitude.

(Note) Emergency assistance and supplementary emergency assistance includes: daily commodities, food, medical supplies, livestock feed, and telecommunications equipment.

(3) In terms of trade and investment relations, the Mongolian side welcomed the signing of an investment agreement, which it has desired for a long time. The Japanese side announced its intention to provide financial assistance towards trade and investment, and to cooperate in holding the "Mongolia Exhibition" in Japan sometime this year, in order to promote trade with Mongolia.

(4) As for economic cooperation, the two sides agreed upon: (a) the exchange and signing of documents regarding the provision of yen loans to the Rehabilitation Project of the Fourth Thermal Power Station in Ulaanbaatar; (b) placing further emphasis on "the area of the environment" in addition to the previously-established four priority areas of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Mongolia; (c) the dispatch of experts in order to conduct IT seminars; (d) the start of negotiations on a technical cooperation agreement; and (e) the acceptance of approximately 20 Mongolian exchange students to study in Japan through the project for human resource development scholarships.

(5) In the area of cultural exchange, as 2002 will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Mongolia, both sides agreed to cooperate together on a project that would appropriately commemorate this 30th anniversary, in order to promote mutual understanding.

(6) Both sides agreed that security in Northeast Asia was an issue of great concern, and pointed out the importance of taking opportunities at various levels to exchange views on the subject.

(7) On the issue of United Nations (UN) reforms, the Mongolian side expressed support for Japan to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and both sides announced their commitment to cooperate with regard to Security Council reforms.

(8) In terms of his regional agenda, Prime Minister Enkhbayar worked to expand exchange and enhance mutual understanding on all levels by, for example, visiting Gifu Prefecture, where he observed IT-related facilities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), and attending a welcome reception sponsored by various friendship organizations.