Mongolian President Kh.Battulga is leading a delegation to the third Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in the Russian city of Vladivostok on Wednesday and Thursday. This is the newly elected president’s maiden trip abroad and his first opportunity to participate in economic matters internationally; it is also clearly related to his diplomatic agenda to promote economic cooperation.

On Wednesday (6th of September), Kh.Battulga spoke at the Mongolia-Russia Business Forum, which is a part of the EEF. He noted that the forum represents an opportunity to restore friendly relations between the two countries. Before being elected as  Mongolian President in June, Kh.Battulga was a businessman. During the forum, he introduced three proposals for cooperation and investment in developing the Sainshand Industrial Park, exporting more meat and other products to Russia and to transport coal through Vostochny Port, located near Vladivostok on the Sea of Japan.

The EEF, a regional forum for investment and commerce initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, aims to strengthen international economic cooperation in the Russian Far East, and attract investment from northeast Asian governments and companies in particular. The past two forums were attended by large business delegations from China, Japan and South Korea. Thus at this EEF, Mongolia hopes to develop dialogue with its two neighbours – China and Russia, with whom it shares a land border, and also with its two important ‘third neighbors’ – Japan and South Korea.