Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada yesterday called on Prime Minister S. Batbold to discuss the state of
bilateral relations. Batbold thanked Japan’s support to Mongolia in its
transition to a market economy and suggested a comprehensive economic
cooperation program to strengthen ties. This would cover important
infrastructure projects such as railway, energy and construction.

Katsuya Okada supported the idea and said
Japan wanted to continue providing help to the Government of Mongolia to speed
up the economic development of the country. Japan is interested in
collaboration in the mineral resources sector, particularly in uranium and in
the Tavantolgoi coal.

Batbold said Mongolia welcomed foreign investment in setting up processing
units that would add  value to minerals.
He was sure help from Japan, with its developed technology and management,
would be very welcome and referred to the use of Japanese expertise  in  the
electricity plant  in Ulaanbaatar.