Mongolia and S.Korea agree to boost economic and development ties

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ South Korea and Mongolia agreed Thursday to strengthen cooperation in implementing various economic and development projects between the sides, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said. During bilateral talks, Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Mongolian Minister of Road and Transportation M.Zorigt exchanged views on the two countries' economic cooperation across the energy, transportation and natural resources sectors, the ministry said in a press release. The second meeting of the South Korea-Mongolia joint committee brought together officials from relevant government departments, including the two countries' foreign, transportation and finance ministries. The committee was launched in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in March 2015 on the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. According to the ministry, Cho asked for Mongolia's assistance in resolving various issues faced by South Korean firms involved in the construction of a thermal power plant and other projects in the country. Zorigt said he would work for a solution. The Mongolian minister, meanwhile, requested South Korea's participation in development projects to replace buses and improve heating systems in his country. Cho proposed the two countries sign an agreement to promote development cooperation under South Korea's official development assistance program. The South Korean minister also asked for Mongolia's active participation in implementing recently adopted U.N. sanctions against North Korea. Zorigt expressed deep concern over the North's nuclear and long-range rocket tests earlier this year and pledged the Mongolian government's commitment to the U.N. sanctions, reported YONHAP on March 24.