FEC

On July 23, Mr. Naoto Ito, Chairman of FEC Japan-Mongolia Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee (Corporate Adviser of Japan Freight Railway Co., Ltd) and other FEC senior executives paid a courtesy visit to H. E. Mr. Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia at the Hotel New Otani Tokyo during his stay in Japan.

At the beginning, Mr. Ito said, “I remember the President’s speech in the Parliament of Japan three years ago, when you introduced the talk of a Mongolian spot (Both Mongolians and Japanese are born with a mark from the heaven called a Mongolian spot). It was nice to hear again from you about a Mongolian spot at the Mongolian business forum yesterday. President said that Mongolia is a country with resources and is not surrounded by the sea, while Japan is a country without resources and is surrounded by the sea. President emphasized that both countries should cooperate and this remark was very forcible and persuasive. It is expected that various cooperation between both countries will develop, and it is important that we steadily proceed one by one. We would like to work together to propose good ideas on many agendas including mineral resources development. Many Mongolian students are studying in Japan and the education of a next generation like them is very important. We are pursuing private diplomatic activities in this way. FEC can complement the portion which the government diplomacy cannot do, and communicate well with the private sector companies, therefore please let us know your request if any.”

President Elbegdorj appreciated the meeting with FEC and said, “ Mr.Ito knows Mongolia very well, therefore I can relax and enjoy his talk today. It is my great pleasure to have had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe successfully yesterday. We would like you to utilize at most the outcome of Mongolia – Japan EPA which both countries agreed in general. I also expect the EPA to be used widely in both countries. Mongolia is small in stature, however moves extensively. We expect the Mongolian market not only develop at home and in Japan but also expand globally.” After introducing the attendants of both sides, President Elbegdorj said,”Japanese people need not the visa when they travel Mongolia within 30 days stay, however Mongolians need the visa to go to Japan. We plan to conclude the EPA with Japan in the first half of next year, expecting your cooperation and further private investments which will lead to the visa waiver. We are constructing a new airport in Ulaanbaatar, making the hub to connect Asia and Europe. We would like to develop our cooperation in tourism and agriculture.” After the meeting, Mr.Ito handed a souvenir to President Elbegdorj, followed by commemorative photograph taking by all the attendants.