FEC

On February 11, FEC President Matsuzawa paid a courtesy visit to H. E. Mr. Chimed Saikhanbileg, Prime Minister of Mongolia at the Hotel Okura Tokyo during his stay in Japan. From Mongolia side 10 people attended including Ambassador Khurelbaatar and Mr. Luvsannyam Gantumur, Minister for Education and Science. From FEC side 10 people attended including Mr. Takenori Shimizu, Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia and Mr. Naohiko Ito, Chairman of FEC Japan-Mongolia Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee, Corporate Adviser to Japan Freight Railway Co., Ltd.

At the beginning, Mr. Matsuzawa said, “ I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Saikhanbileg’ s visit to Japan. I was impressed with Prime Minister’s sincere speech at the Japan-Mongolia Business Meeting which was held yesterday at JETRO. FEC has been making an effort to strengthen relations with Mongolia with the cooperation of Ambassador Khurelbaatar. We regularly dispatch the FEC Mongolia mission to your country, and FEC also concluded a Memorandum with the North-East Asia Association. I really appreciate Mining Minister Jigjid is cooperation over a long period of time including  the time when he was ambassador to Japan.

In response, Prime Minister Saikhanbileg said,” I am delighted to receive warm welcome from many Japanese people this time. The Ministers who are present, have deep relationship with Japan. Mr. Gantumur, Minister for Education and Science, is a graduate of a Japanese university and sent 5000 Mongolians to Japan. Mr. Gankhuyag is the chairman of the Mongolia Japan Parliamentary Friendship League. Mr. Sumiyabazar is former yokozuna, Asashoryu’s brother. Mr.Jigjid is former Ambassador to Japan. They can understand the Japanese language without an interpreter. Mongolia’s first Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was concluded with Japan yesterday at the end of negotiations that had lasted approximately three years. Now we have well-equipped environment that can promote further economic cooperation between our two countries. When I met Mr.Yamazaki, House of Councillors chairman, I suggested that Japan should dispatch retirees to Mongolia. I would appreciate it if FEC could cooperate on this matter. I have a message for Chairman Ito from our President, who expect Japanese cooperation for the railway project. Our cabinet is regarded as a decisive one and we promote Tavan Tolgoi coal mine project and Oyu Tolgoi project. We need to encourage development of small and medium-size enterprises, and we would expect Japanese support on this matter as well.” In closing, commemorative photograph was taken and business card exchange followed.