Speaker Z.Enkhbold meets Senate President of Italy

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Chairman of the State Great Khural Z.Enkhbold Thursday met with visiting Mr Pietro Grasso, the President of the Senate of Italy. The Speaker thanked Mr Grasso for visiting Mongolia and attaching a significance to the 9th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting which is continuing in Ulaanbaatar. “800 years ago, Mongolia and Italy had the ties, connecting Asia and Europe like today’s ASEM. An Italian merchant traveler Marco Polo lived in the Khubilai Khaan’s Palace for over 20 years, making trades along the Silk Road. This is a clear evidence that our countries have ancient relations, and now we are possible to forward the preset ties, for example, we can collaborate in producing cashmere good with a combination of Mongolian raw materials and Italian high technologies,” Mr Enkhbold said. Mr Enkhbold noted that the Mongolia-Italy inter-parliamentary group works at the State Great Khural, and said Ts.Dashdorj MP serves as this group’s head. He said if the Senate of Italy has such group, the inter-parliamentary ties and cooperation can broaden. In response, Mr Grasso expressed thanks to the Speaker for a warm audience, and said he is visiting here to officially transfer to Mongolia the ASEP continuation. He added that the Italian delegation intends to boost the bilateral cooperation and to get familiarized with works of opening the Embassy of Italy in Mongolia. The Senate President mentioned about the ancient ties and cooperation between the countries, and emphasized the bilateral ties could deepen. “Pursuant to a decree of the Italian President, my country has decided to open its Embassy in Mongolia. An experienced diplomat has been appointed as the Ambassador to Mongolia, and it is expression of the Italy’s side to attach a great importance to the relations and cooperation with Mongolia. I also hope that the ASEP9 will open new directions for progressing the bilateral ties and cooperation,” Mr Grasso said. The sides determined cooperation directions for the cooperation in frames of the inter-parliamentary ties, and exchanged views on broadening the collaboration.