At the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to Mongolia from May 21 to 22, 2023. The state visit marked the first-ever visit to Mongolia of a French president since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965 and it aimed at upgrading the relationship between both countries to a higher level. Mongolia sees France as an important Third Neighbor, while France considers Mongolia to be a Privileged Partner. The two sides reaffirmed a strong partnership between the two countries, based on mutual respect and common values of democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law. They reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter and multilateralism, to preserve international peace and stability, and to promote sustainable development. Mongolia supports the objectives of the Summit on New global financial pact convened by France in June, for a world that is better equipped to address our global challenges, achieving the sustainable development goals and our climate and nature objectives. The two presidents expressed their satisfaction at the increasing level of bilateral interactions between governments, businesses as well as of people to people exchanges. The two leaders also discussed a wide range of regional and global issues. They reiterated that international disputes should be resolved by peaceful means and with respect for the UN Charter and international law, including the principles of sovereignty and respect for the independence and territorial integrity of states. To this end, both nations expressed concern over the suffering of civilian population and the bombing of civilian infrastructures in Ukraine, and would support any effort to foster a restoration of a sustainable peace based on international law. Both leaders underlined the importance of non-proliferation, including in the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, France called on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respect UN resolutions, and appreciated Mongolia's efforts to promote dialogue in North-East Asia. With a view to advancing national and global common agenda based on common values to promote prosperity, gender equality, feminist foreign policy and sustainable development, and in order to tackle major global challenges, including mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, ensuring energy and food security, promoting global health, protecting the global space of information and communication, advancing peace and security in contributing to UN Peace-keeping operations, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and fight against terrorism, the two sides agreed to broaden their cooperation in the following areas: 1. To strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in political, defense and civil security field, in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, telecommunication and technology, industrialization, education as well as science, culture and sports. 2. To encourage an exchange of high-level visits, political consultations and active engagement between Parliamentary friendship groups, within the framework of political cooperation. 3. To regularly consult on the agenda of the UN and other international organizations, particularly, on issues of peace, security, international law, fight against desertification, climate change, feminist diplomacy as well as elections in international organizations. 4. To continue to promote the cooperation in the defense sector particularly, 'Khaan Quest' multinational annual exercise as well as the UN peace-keeping operations. Furthermore, to support the cooperation between defense institutions, including their capacity building, french language and specialized trainings for Mongolian personnel. 5. To continue the joint projects in the field of civil security and strengthen the cooperation between National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia and Directorate General of Civil Security and Crisis Management of France, particularly to enhance capacities, conduct training for the disaster relief national team of Mongolia that meet the international standards and criteria to contribute to international disaster relief operations. 6. Within the framework of economic cooperation, to strongly promote and support Mongolia-France trade turnover and foreign direct investment, including promoting a favorable business climate and stable and sustainable legal environment. 7. To deepen the Mongolia-France economic cooperation and to promote the full implementation of Generalized Scheme of Preferences /GSP+/, based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Mongolia and the European Union. 8. To broaden the cooperation in the field of space studies for peaceful purposes, including communication satellites. 9. While attaching significant importance to the sustainable development, to maintain the full implementation of the 'Ulaanbaatar cable car transport project' which is environmentally friendly and supported and financed by the French side. 10. To cooperate in mitigating climate change and greenhouse emission by synergizing their commitments as well as the 'Billion trees' national movement of Mongolia and French initiatives taken in this area, especially during the One Forest Summit in Libreville, and to promote this agenda in all relevant international fora. 11. While welcoming Mongolia's participation as Guest of Honor at 'Sommet de l'Elevage' held in October 2022 in Clermont-Ferrand, to intensify their cooperation in agricultural sector, particularly in the fields of livestock husbandry, geographical indication, food processing, food security, veterinary services. 12. Within the cooperation in energy sector, to intensify the negotiation on draft agreements of investment and shareholders on the Zuuvch-Ovoo joint project to be implemented by 'Badrakh Energy LLC' joint venture, with a view to conclude the agreements in the Autumn. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to facilitate and increase existing and future French investment in renewable energy as well as to cooperate in the diversification of energy sources and in energy transition. 13. To extend the cooperation in health sector through exploring the possibility of further developing capacity building and exchange program for personnel of traumatology and cancer. 14. To deepen the cooperation in education, science and culture. In this regards, the two sides agreed to enlarge the 'Mission-2100' initiative as well as joint scholarship programs that would enable to increase human resources in agriculture, biotechnology, renewable energy, nuclear energy and radioactive minerals for peaceful purposes. The sides remained fully committed to promote Mongolian language learning in France and vice-versa. 15. To boost the cooperation in culture and in that respect, the two sides vowed to support the exhibition titled 'Genghis Khaan-Mongolians changed the world' to be opened at the History Museum of Nantes under the auspices of the two Presidents. Furthermore, they will collaborate on opening the exhibition in Mongolia as well as in other countries. 16. To foster the cooperation in cinematography and work towards joint film production as well as to concluding relevant legal documents in that regard. 17. To broaden the cooperation in tourism sector and to encourage arrangements of direct commercial flights between Mongolia and France. 18. While Mongolian side expressed its best wishes for a successful organization of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a major international sporting festival, both sides agreed to extend their support to cooperation between their Olympic and Paralympic national teams.

Source: Philippines News Agency