Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia : MONGOLIA AND ARGENTINA HELD FIRST POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Argentina held the first political consultations on March 9, 2017, in Ulaanbaatar.

During the consultations, the two sides had a comprehensive discussion on the opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of political, trade, commercial and humanitarian relations, as well as objectives of the near future. In particular, both sides have stressed the potential of collaborating in the agricultural sector. The Argentinian side shared its experience in the elimination of the foot-and-mouth disease and expressed the possibility of cooperation in this field.

Argentina has successfully implemented a number of programs such as improving the technology of a dairy production in Indonesia; an introduction to world standard beef production technology, and improving an animal hygiene and immunization in Cambodia; an introduction of crop industry based on advanced technology in Armenia.

Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, the Argentinian side expressed readiness to welcome Mongolian Minister for Food, Agriculture and Light Industry to Argentina and send the experts of the Argentinian National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) to Mongolia. Moreover, the two sides stressed the importance of facilitating the cooperation of the private sector of both nations involved in agricultural production.

Furthermore, the Argentinian side expressed its willingness to look into the possibilities to train Mongolian students in the agricultural field at the National University of Buenos Aires; and Mongolian diplomats at the Diplomatic Academy of Argentina.

The two sides exchanged views on matters of cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and regional mechanisms such as the South-South cooperation and FEALAC; and global issues of mutual concern.

Within the margins of the consultations, the two sides initialed the Agreement on Mutual visa exemption for holders of all types of passports from both countries between the two Governments.

The agreement compliments Mongolia's already existing arrangements to facilitate travel of Mongolian citizens to Latin American countries such as Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and Brazil.

Mr. D. Davaasuren, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Ambassador Gustavo R. Zlauvinen, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Argentina led the delegations, which also included senior officials from both Ministries as well as representatives from other Mongolian Ministries.

Mongolia and Argentina established diplomatic relations on September 7, 1971. In 2016, Mongolia imported approx. $1.5 million worth of products from Argentina namely cheese, soybean oil, chocolate, cocoa-containing products and dried fruits.

Mongolia has consultative meetings with countries of Latin America such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay, and Argentina.