On July 22-23, Mongolian Foreign Minister G. Zandanshatar attended in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)and 17-th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Foreign Minister shared his concern on the current political situation in Asia-Pacific region and Northeast Asia at the Forum. He underlined the importance of UN’s role in both global and regional peace and security. He asked for foreign ministers’ attention in Mongolia’s effort to secure its nuclear weaponfree status internationally. He also briefed about Mongolia’s participation in UN and international peace making operations.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to visit Mongolia in 2011

The foreign ministers’ meeting brought together 27 countriesparticipants of the ARF, including ASEAN members such as Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, the partner of the ASEAN–Australia, the USA, the Republic of Korea, China, India, Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Japan and the European Union (EU); the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua and New Guinea, Timor Leste and Sri-Lanka; and Secretaries-General of the ASEAN.

The ARF which started its actions in 1994 is the only structure for carrying out multi-lateral talks on politics and security in Asia-Pacific region. Mongolia joined the ARF in 1998 making an important step to focus on realizing the policy of uniting the multilateral actions and integration in Asia and Pacific. Moreover, the ARF is very important for Mongolia to get the scent of the regional safety environment and to protect national security.

Foreign Minister G. Zandanshatar and Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem

In Hanoi, ASEAN Foreign Ministers continued their discussions on how the regional architecture should further evolve with ASEAN at its core, and review progress of the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan. They approved a working plan of activities to be done in 2011.

The ARF participants agreed and adopted the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the ARF Vision Statement, which contains concrete and practical goals and measures to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous ARF area by 2020.

Accordingly, the ministers agreed to adopt the ARF Annual Security Outlook Standardized Format (ASO); the Work Plan on Disaster Relief; the Work Plan on Counter-terrorism and Transnational Crime and the Work Plan on Maritime Security. They tasked senior officials to work on possible ways to strengthen the ARF Unit as part of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Foreign Minister G.Zandanshatar with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN

The Mongolian delegation expressed its governmental position at the meeting on regional and international security including the security of Northeast Asia and further guidelines of the ARF’s actions. They also met with representatives of Japan, the EU and Vietnam to share views on bilateral ties and other matters.

Mongolian Foreign Minister G.Zandanshatar also met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the foreign ministers’ meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

During the meeting, they exchanged views on Mongolia-U.S. relations and cooperation. Zandanshatar invited Ms. Clinton to visit Mongolia in 2011 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Mongolia’s national freedom movement and the 90th anniversary of the People’s Revolution. Clinton accepted the invitation and agreed to visit Mongolia at that time.

Moreover, she congratulated Mongolia on the 20th anniversary of Mongolia’s democratization and on leading the League of Democratic Nations in 2011. Clinton first visited Mongolia as U.S. first lady.

Mongolian Foreign Minister G. Zandanshatar met Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi.

He congratulated Katsuya Okada for being elected the Japanese Foreign Minister for the second time, and expressed willingness to deepen Mongolia-Japan comprehensive partnership relations and to cooperate closely in bringing the ties into a newer level. The sides expressed a mutual wish to develop the collaboration in coal and uranium mining. The Mongolian side suggested the Japanese study the ext biggest project to be realized after the project on construction of a new international airport in frames of official developmental assistance from Japan. Besides matters on preparation for high level bilateral visits and facilitating terms of the mutual visits of citizens, the Foreign Ministers discussed the present situation of the region and the cooperation at international and regional arenas. Then Zandanshatar invited his counterpart to visit Mongolia.

The Japanese Foreign Minister showed interested in the possibility of Japanese firms taking part in natural resource development projects in Mongolia.

In talks held on the sidelines of meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Vietnamese capital, Okada said Japanese companies are eager to be involved in coalfield development and uranium mining in the Mongolia.

Meeting with Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Zandanshatar expressed satisfaction with widening the Mongolia-Hungary traditional friendly relations with new contents. Mr. Zandanshatar said Mongolia aims to introduce the standards, principles and norms of the European Union to Mongolia’s socio-economic spheres and to cooperate with Hungary in it. In frames of Mongolia-Hungary history and culture connection propaganda, Zandanshatar suggested the Hungarian side to cooperate in marking the 2,220th anniversary of the Hunnic Empire. Mr. Zandanshatar spoke about Mongolia-EU relations and cooperation issues such as the Partnership and cooperation agreement talks between Mongolia and EU and a visit of the EU’s authorities to be paid to Mongolia. Then Mr. Zandanshatar said Mongolia wants to develop active cooperation with Hungary during its upcoming chairing the EU’s Council.

Mr. Zandanshatar held separate talk with Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on July 24. He affirmed that Mongolia attaches importance to ties with Vietnam and wishes to further increase cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

He suggested that the two countries increase their trade, particularly the import of meat and animal-originated products from Mongolia and the export of consumer goods to Mongolia.

At the upcoming 14th session of the Vietnam-Mongolia intergovernmental committee, the two sides need to discuss measures to tap each country’s potential to boost economic and trade cooperation, he said.

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