On December 15, 2016, Chairman of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia Mr. Miyegombo ENKHBOLD and accompanying parliamentarians held meetings with Chairman of the State Duma Mr. Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, head of the “United Russia” faction Mr. Vladimir Abdualievich Vasilyev and Chairwoman of the Federation Council Ms. Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko respectively.

During the meetings, Speaker M.Enkhbold emphasized that the two countries should forward the traditional and friendly relations been corroborated many years of history as well as to bring into a higher level of collaboration.

He further noted, “Inter-parliamentary ties have been growing. In the frameworks, the cooperation between provincial and local legislative bodies should be broaden. But trade and economic relations are lower than expected. In fact, only about 11 percent of total foreign trade of Mongolia has been accounted with Russia in the first 10 months of 2016. Therefore, it is important us to create a balance in trade with our two neighbors. However we face the tariff and non-tariff difficulties, but we have opportunities to overcome and in this term, support of the two parliaments is important to accomplish the strategic partnership and implement the medium-term program of cooperation between the two countries. Moreover, we would like to draw your attention on major projects and programs to establish joint ventures of strategic level of cooperation that have been stagnated in recent years”.

During the meetings, Mr. V.V.Volodin, Mr. V.A.Vasilyev and Ms. V.I.Matviyenko affirmed that the friendly and peaceful relations inherited by our forefathers should be maintained and the further development is a priority of mutual goal.

Mr. V.A.Vasilyev agreed the current level of cooperation is very disappointing and needed to enhance. In addition, he said the bilateral cooperation would not limited with Eurasian Economic Commission, our two countries have opportunities to participate in international and regional economic cooperation.

Chairman of the State Duma V.V.Volodin underlined collaboration between the two highest legislative bodies, the State Duma and the State Great Hural, are successfully growing. But economic relations left behind political and inter-parliamentary relationships and thus we should focus on this to forward. In the beginning of this year, the outstanding debt of Mongolia to Russia was annulled upon the ratification of the State Duma and this opened new opportunities in the bilateral relationship, particularly in trade and investment.

Chairwoman of the Federation Council Ms. V.I.Matviyenko congratulated Mr. M.Enkhbold on ruling his party to win the 2016 parliamentary election and being elected as the Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia. She further stressed, “However we held bilateral meetings with our Mongolian counterparts several times and reached consensus on certain deals, but results show ineffective. Therefore, parties should make actual results in order to advance further successful development of traditional relations. Moreover, representatives of our government, ministries and businesses conclude that Mongolians do not keep promises and do not understand their responsibilities. This situation must be cleared out. I believe, the governing political party will revive this situation and bring back the traditional friendly and good neighborly relations. Mr.Enkhbold is a very experienced political figure, who used to be a Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Prime Minister and now the Chairman of Mongolian Parliament”.

Chairman M.Enkhbold noted, Mongolia is studying the possibility of establishing a free trade agreement within the Eurasian Economic Commission. Also, we need to increase the volume of traditional exports to Russia, for instances, meat and meat products, leather and cashmere wool products, where your support is also valuable.

Moreover, Speaker of Mongolia Parliament M.Enkhbold requested authorities of the State Duma and the Federation Council to focus on providing long-term loan at low-interest rate to overcome the current economic difficulties being experienced in Mongolia. The working visit of Mongolian parliamentarians headed by Speaker M.Enkhbold to the Russian Federation has been concluded.

Press and public relations department of Secretariat of the State Great Hural of Mongolia