On June 21-23, .G. Zandanshatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a working visit to the Republic of Italy.

It was first-ever visit paid by a Mongolian Foreign Minister to Italy in 17 years. The Foreign Minister held his first meeting with He Changchui, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome city, Italy.

The sides shared views on cooperation between Mongolia and the FAO. Mr. Changchui officially advised that the FAO has decided to implement a project worth USD 40 million in the vegetable and animal husbandry sector in Mongolia.

Foreign Minister G. Zandanshatar with his Italian counterpart Frattini

Minister Zandanshatar also met with Ms. Yukiko Omura, Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and discussed issues about food safety in Mongolia and co-implementing the ‘Mongolian livestock’ program. In the course of meeting, Ms. Omura said the IFAD resolved to issue USD 11.4 million from December to realize a program to improve pasture management in 2010-2012. Mr.Zandanshatar, thanked the FAO and the IFAD for assistance of USD 1.7 million and Tgs 400 million to many aimags of Mongolia that suffered the harsh winter and spring.

During the visit, Minister Zandanshatar met with R. Graziano, Secretary-General of Italy’s National Micro-Credit Committee and they both exchanged views about the possibility for Mongolia’s private sector to receive micro-credits.

The same day, he also held a meeting with Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome city to discuss cooperation between the capital cities of two countries.

In the course of his visit, the Foreign Minister held an official talk with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini. They pointed out that 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations is marked this year between the two countries and expressed an intention to intensify relations.

They also discussed organizing extensive economic activity in Italy with the purpose to introduce the European Union’s standards into all spheres of Mongolia and to intensify bilateral cooperation in the sectors of trade, economy and investments. They also exchanged opinions on expanding collaboration in the education and cultural sectors and training administrative officials of Mongolia.

During the meeting, the Italian Foreign Minister reported that the State Secretary of Italy’s Foreign Ministry Ms. Stefania Craxi would visit Mongolia sooner and plans to hold a bilateral political consultative meeting. He conveyed to G. Zandanshatar a greeting by Italy’s President on the anniversary of the diplomatic relations and delivered an invitation for the Mongolian President to visit Italy.

In line with the visit, Foreign Minister held a meeting with Mr. Adolfo Urso, the Vice Minister for Economic Development with discussing bilateral cooperation issues in the trade, economics and investments sectors. They exchanged views in detail about introducing Italy’s progressive and high technologies of processing agricultural products, developing collaboration in the infrastructure sector and starting cooperation in micro-credit. During the meeting, a cooperation memorandum was signed between the Foreign Investment Department of Mongolia and the Foreign Trade Commission of Italy by their leaders, B. Ganzorig and U. Vattani.

Afterwards, the Foreign Minister called on L. Dini, an Italian MP and head of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Migrants and shared views on Mongolia-Italy cooperation in areas of politics, economics, energy, culture, education and others.

The same day, Mr. Zandanshatar attended an event for publicizing Mongolia organized by the Italy-Mongolia Trade Chamber (IMTC). In the course of this event, the IMTC ranted a prize to G.Zandanshatar.
A memorandum of cooperation was also established between Mongolia’s Foreign Investment Department and the IMTC as well.

<< BACK