Ulaanbaatar, June 24, 2024 /MONTSAME/. At the invitation of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Mongolia H.E. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa is on a State Visit to Uzbekistan on June 23-26, 2024. The Heads of State held official talks at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace in Tashkent on June 24, 2024. At the beginning of the talks, President Khurelsukh expressed his sincere gratitude to President Mirziyoyev, the government, and the people of Uzbekistan for the invitation to the country with spectacular natural beauty located in the heart of Eurasia, their warm welcome and hospitality. President Khurelsukh emphasized that the relations between the peoples of the two countries date back centuries and the two countries have close and friendly relations, sharing similar values rooted in nomadic civilization, history, and traditions. President of Mongolia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening friendly relations with Uzbekistan and expanding mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation.

President Mirziyoyev expressed his confidence that this State Visit, the first highest-level visit from Mongolia since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992, would provide a significant impetus to strengthening friendly relations and enriching cooperation between Mongolia and Uzbekistan with new economic content. The Heads of State reviewed the achievements of the past 30 years and expressed their appreciation for opening a new chapter in the relations, defining approaches in relations and cooperation for the next 30 years. The Heads of State commended the signing of over 10 agreements and contracts between the governments and organizations, which will significantly strengthen the legal framework for bilateral relations.

To boost mutually beneficial economic cooperation further the parties confirmed their commitments to expanding and deepening mutually beneficial economic cooperation in areas such as mining, agriculture, light industry, transport, logistics, tourism, education, culture, and health. The parties affirmed their confidence that the opening of the Embassy of Mongolia in Tashkent during this State Visit will provide stimulus to intensifying bilateral relations and cooperation and increasing trade turnover. President Mirziyoyev noted Uzbekistan's aspiration to open its embassy in Ulaanbaatar city soon.

The Heads of State commended the establishment of the Joint Program for the Development of Trade, Economic, and Investment Cooperation for 2024-2026, and agreed to cooperate in increasing trade turnover between the two countries by 10 to 20 times, supplying wool, cashmere, leather, meat, and meat products from Mongolia to the market of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, and importing fruits, berries, and vegetables from Uzbekistan.

The first meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission is scheduled to be held in the second half of 2024 in Tashkent as part of the realization of the decisions on trade, economic, and investment cooperation agreed upon by the Heads of State. The two countries agreed to implement joint projects and programs based on potentials in the agriculture and light industry sectors of Mongolia and Uzbekistan, which would be symbols in the relations of the two countries, and agreed to establish a related Working Group. The parties emphasized the importance of transport and logistics in expanding economic cooperation and commended the establishment of legal foundations for transport cooperation through the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Air Relations and the Intergovernmental Agreement on International Road Transport. Taking the visa-free travel advantage for citizens of both countries, the two countries agreed to launch direct flights between Ulaanbaatar and Tashkent, and cooperate in increasing the flow of mutual travel, and the export and import of goods and products, and developing the tourism sector. The parties appreciated the participation of representatives from over 300 enterprises in the “Mongolia-Uzbekistan Business Forum” being held in Tashkent during the Visit and agreed to jointly organize agricultural and light industry exhibitions and fairs in the future. Noting that hundreds of Mongolian youths have received higher education in Uzbekistan, the two sides agreed to revive and expand traditional educational cooperation by mutually sending students to Mongolian and Uzbek universities on Government Scholarships.

Acclaiming the newly developing cooperation in the health sector between Mongolia and Uzbekistan, the Heads of State welcomed the opening of the NURA Health Screening Center in Tashkent, equipped with advanced modern medical devices, and established with investment from a Mongolian enterprise, expressing confidence in its significant contribution to the expansion and development of cooperation between the two countries in the health sector. The countries have actively supported each other within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations and they reaffirmed their commitment to further intensifying their cooperation on regional and international platforms. To contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and desertification and protect the environment, the parties agreed to collaborate in the forestry sector by synchronizing Mongolia's "One Billion Trees" National Campaign and Uzbekistan's "Green Space" Project. Uzbekistan expressed its intention to join the Mongolia-initiated Multilateral Agreement for the Establishment of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries. Applauding the organization of a Mongolia-Uzbekistan Joint Cultural Performance under the auspices of the Heads of State, the parties agreed to collaborate in promoting the cultural heritage and traditions of the two countries by organizing cultural days and events. The official talks were held in a warm and businesslike atmosphere and President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Joint Declaration on the Relationship and Cooperation between Mongolia and Uzbekistan.