site.btaPresidents of Bulgaria, Mongolia Discuss Widening of Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations

Presidents of Bulgaria, Mongolia Discuss Widening of Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations

Ulan Bator, May 11 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj Monday discussed
the opportunities for widening the bilateral trade and economic
relations.

The Bulgarian head of State is on a three-day visit to Mongolia
since Sunday. The state visit takes place within the context of
the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.

Plevneliev said that Bulgaria seeks comprehensive partnership
and cooperation with Mongolia and stated an intention to extend
further the bilateral relations in the field of mining,
pharmaceutics, energy, agriculture and food production, the
leather industry, high technologies, defence, and the
construction of modern infrastructure.

He listed as opportunities for cooperation the Bulgarian
pharmaceutic companies looking for joint ventures and production
 in Mongolia. Plevneliev added that Mongolia is already trading
with Bulgarian medicinal products, these are known in this
country but there is a greater prospect in this sphere. Food
production also offers serious prospects and Bulgarian companies
 will be encouraged to produce in Mongolia and to enter big
markets, such as the Chinese one, through joint ventures with
Mongolian partners, he noted. Specific cooperation opportunities
 also exist in the defence industry where, for example, the
production of  night vision equipment by Bulgaria's OPTIX Co
could be sold in Mongolia.

It transpired at the two presidents' joint news conference that
Mongolia will seek Bulgaria's experience with the construction
of the Sofia underground railway system (the metro). The Mayor
of Ulan Bator is about to visit the Bulgarian capital and
acquaint himself with the project. "Bulgaria is known in Eastern
 Europe for its fast and nice metro and we would like to use the
 experience with the Sofia metro's construction in a short time
with small expenditures," the Mongolian President said.

Elbegdorj thanked the Bulgarian side for its support for the
cooperation between Mongolia and the EU. In his words, Mongolia
is convinced that its best friend and ally in Europe is
Bulgaria. Plevneliev made a reference to the ratification by the
 Bulgarian National Assembly of the Framework Agreement on
Partnership and Cooperation between the EU and Mongolia, and
said that this agreement will give Mongolia the opportunity to
widen its cooperation with the European Union and will
strengthen Bulgarian-Mongolian relations.

The two presidents also noted Bulgaria's contribution in the
training of Mongolian students and specialists. Elbegdorj said
that his country will send students in Bulgaria for training in
IT and environmental sciences.

Plevneliev recalled that Bulgaria reinstated its embassy in Ulan
 Bator and noted that work is underway for opening a consulate
as well. He said that Bulgaria has an ambitious programme for
expansion of cooperation which also means more effective
visa-issuing.

Bilateral agreements were signed in the presence of the two
heads of State, including a memorandum of understating between
the two countries' foreign ministries, an agreement between the
education ministries on grants in farming sciences and training
of Mongolian students in Bulgaria, an agreement on research
cooperation between the academies of the sciences, and an
agreement on technical aid in farming, under which Bulgaria is
to build a greenhouse in Ulan Bator and provide consultancy and
technical services for its operation.

Plevneliev opened a monument to the Cyrillic letters in a school
 in Ulan Bator. Mongolia is the only non-Slav country using
Cyrillic writing. The monument was unveiled on the Day of Sts
Cyril and Methodius, who invented earliest version of the
Slavonic alphabet in 9th century AD. 

Later on Monday Plevneliev is scheduled to confer with the
Chairman of the State Great Hural, Zandaakhuu Enkhbold, and
Prime Minister Chimediin Saikhanbileg.