Prime Minister S.Batbold’s busy schedule during his
official visit to Russia yesterday included talks with his counterpart
V.V.Putin,  and several other important
leaders. After his meeting with Putin, where they signed agreements of
bilateral cooperation, Batbold met S.M.Mironov, Chief of the Federal Council of
Russia, and Gryzlov,  Speaker of the
State Duma.

Among others to call on the visiting Premier was
I.E.Levitin, Chief of the inter-Government Commission of Trade, Economy,
Science and Technical Cooperation and Minister of Transportation. They
exchanged views on issues facing of the two countries. In another meeting, with
S.V.Labrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Batbold discussed significant issue of
bilateral relationship and future collaboration. The Prime Minister wants a
free trade agreement with Russia in the near future, to renew the agreement on
Ulaanbaatar Railway, and to improve the performance of existing joint ventures.

Batbold and Lavrov, who were near contemporaries at the Moscow State Institute
of International Relations, recalled their student days and Lavrov
congratulated Batbold on receiving an honorary doctorate from the institute
earlier during the visit. Batbold later attended a meeting of Mongolian and
Russian businessmen and signed several documents to extend trade.