Mongolian Ambassador to China Ts.Sukhbaatar answers our journalist’s questions.

How did the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister contribute to the strategic partnership of our two countries?
Our bilateral relations are based on good neighborliness and mutual trust. China has become our main trade partner and it has invested more than any other nation in Mongolia. Political ties are also close and strong. Strategic partnership indicates stress on long-term economic and trade ties and has no military or political overtones.

What sectors have been identified for cooperation?
The talks mostly covered three sectors: mining, infrastructure and finance. China would invest in all three. It could also provide loans, both soft and commercial.

Why is petroleum price increasing in China?
China imports 50% of the petroleum products it needs and prices have been going up in the world market. A drought has also led to some food shortage and price increase. Inflation is also a threat.

Would all this impact Mongolia?
Mongolia imports petroleum from Russia and exports some crude, so prices in China are not relevant here. But rise in Chinese food prices will certainly affect us, unless Mongolia grows enough grain.

How many Mongolian citizens are in Chinese prisons? Does your Embassy keep in touch with them, especially those sentenced for drug trafficking?
21 Mongolian citizens are now serving sentence in China and 26 are being detained for investigation. This is not a large figure, considering 900,000 Mongolians travel to China every year and we have 4,000 Mongolian students there. But it is unfortunate that 6 of those convicted were in some drug ring and two of them have received the death sentence. Some of those being investigated also face charges that carry the death penalty. Drug related crimes are increasing every year. Our police and judicial organizations are working with the Chinese to curb such crimes.

What about bringing L.Baigalmaa back to Mongolia and also President Elbegdorj’s request to Hu Jintao to pardon Kh.Damdin, who has been sentenced to death?
Nothing has yet been agreed on Baigalmaa and there has been no reply to the request on Damdin.

We have made progress on an agreement on sending prisoners to home countries,
but  it is unlikely to apply to serious crimes. Also, such an agreement will not lead to exchange of Mongolian prisoners in China and Chinese prisoners in Mongolia.

Specifically which organizations are in the cooperation talks?
The Secretary of the National Security Council, Ts.Enkhtuvshin, led a team of judicial, police and border protection organizations to China in December, 2010 and held talks with the Ministry of Security of China on, among other things, cross border crimes.

How does the Embassy help Mongolian students in China?
Most of the 4,000 Mongolian students receive scholarship from the Government of China and most of them are in Beijing, Shanghai and Khuhhot. They can keep in touch with the Embassy through the web. All of them will meet in the middle of March. They organize sports tournament and will celebrate Mongolia Declaration Day on November 26.