The Foreign Ministries of Mongolia and Switzerland held the third consultative meeting in the city of Berne in the Swiss Confederation on March 24th.

At the consultative meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Mongolia, D.Gankhuyag chaired on the Mongolian side and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant State Secretary for Asia-Pacific, Ambassador Beat Nobs leading the Swiss side.

Parties exchanged views on bilateral relations, cooperation, mutual cooperation development, future prospects, and discussed regional and global multilateral issues.

Parties pointed out successful bilateral relations in the fields of politics, culture, and humanities and discussed the plans for an upcoming event marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Swiss Confederation on May 22nd.  Both sides agreed to hold a diverse art and cultural events, business meetings and exhibitions for the anniversary.

The representatives also talked about further moves to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The Mongolian side emphasized the significance of increasing trade and economic relations and suggested to establish a Mongolia-Swiss Joint Economic Cooperation Commission. At the consultative meeting parties and consuls also shared information and opinions on civilians` issues.

Parties also assured satisfaction over the results of numerous development programs that have been launched in Mongolia by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) over the past decade. Project have included support to agricultural development, improving veterinary practice, reducing negative impacts of micro mining to the environment, creating a Single Window Access to Public Services and combating against human trafficking.

Swiss efforts for development in Mongolia are targeted to decelerate centralization in the City, improve vocational school systems in the local area, and increase agriculture to provide food security in the coming years.

Mongolia congratulated Switzerland for chairing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) this year and expressed that Mongolia believes that bilateral cooperation between Mongolia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will be boosted during this period.  The parties also emphasized the importance for the two countries to mutually support each other in the framework of UN and other international organization.