President Ts.Elbegdorj, Prime Minister S.Batbold and Deputy Speaker of Parliament N.Enkhbold separately received on Thursday A.V.Gordeev, Governor of Voronej Region of the Russian Federation and the Russian President”s special envoy in charge of promoting cooperation with Mongolia in trade, economic and investments. MPs Kh.Badamsuren and G.Bayarsaikhan were present at the meetings. Gordeev was visiting Mongolia for a day.

He told the President that the Russian Government wished to expand economic and trade relations with Mongolia, and was ready to invest and cooperate in the railway, uranium and banking sectors. He also urged talks on joint ventures.

President Elbegdorj reaffirmed Mongolia’s policy of having good-neighbor relations, and recalled that 2009 had been a special year in relations between the two countries. The agreements signed during the visits of the Russian President and Prime Minister were being implemented. Both sides agreed that the President’s visit to Russia this spring should be dedicated to intensifying economic cooperation and settling outstanding issues.

At their meeting Deputy Speaker N.Enkhbold emphasized that traditional and friendly bilateral ties are being strengthened and the two countries share a strategic partnership. He was confident that the present visit would “significantly contribute to our ties and collaboration”.

Enkhbold noted that the Mongolia-Russia parliamentary group, which has the biggest number of members among all such groups, plays an important role in furthering cooperation. He referred to “a number of vital issues to be solved urgently, for example, a transfer of Russian-owned apartments to the Mongolian side, and delay in exporting Mongolian meat to Russia”.

Gordeev expressed his confidence that these matters will be resolved soon. He underlined the “need to begin work in terms of political agreements”. B.Gryzlov, Chairman of the State Duma, will visit Mongolia this year, to share views on cooperation in railway, extraction of uranium and banking sectors.  Gordeev requested the parliamentary group to be active over these issues.

The Prime Minister referred to the visits last year of President D.A.Medvedev and Prime Minister V.V.Putin and the visiting dignitary delivered their greetings to him.

Gordeev briefed the press on the meetings but did not have the time to answer any question.