Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister G.Zandanshatar submitted a proposal to open a diplomatic mission in Italy to Speaker D.Demberel on Wednesday.

The Minister believes a mission in Rome would help foster relations and cooperation with Italy, one of the largest and most important members of the European Union (EU) and the G-8.

Zandanshatar noted that developing ties with Italy would further Mongolia”s “Third Neighbor” policy as well as the country’s national interests. He added that the mission would be important to Mongolian exporters of products such as wool, cashmere, and leather, as well as to the mining and manufacturing sectors. It would also increase Mongolia’s participation in international organizations based in Rome, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as well as increase education, culture, science, humanitarian, and tourism ties.