SPEAKER PAYS COURTESY CALL TO BULGARIAN PRESIDENT

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Chairman of the State Great Khural (parliament) Z.Enkhbold Monday was received by Mr Rosen Plevneliev, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, who is here with the state visit. The Bulgarian President said Mongolia and Bulgaria have many similarities and have deep friendly relations. Expressing a satisfaction with meeting the top legislator of Mongolia within the visit, which is coincided with the 65th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, Mr Plevneliev said he had held meeting with the Mongolian alumni of the Bulgarian universities. This meeting had brought together many professionals such as medical doctors and teachers, Mr Plevneliev noted and hoped they will contribute to the Mongolia-Bulgaria relations and cooperation. Bulgaria and Mongolia have a concrete basis of mutual understanding and cooperation, "we have a willingness to widen this cooperation. In its region Mongolia is an exemplary country in developing the democracy. I have noticed that the Mongolians are satisfied with their choice of democracy. It is good to learn experience of Mongolia to transmit into democracy by a peaceful way," Mr Plevneliev said. He also expressed a willingness of Bulgaria to widen the collaboration in economy and said it is ready to share its experiences in energy industry such as producing electricity from renewable sources and coal. In response, Mr Enkhbold wished the Bulgarian President an enjoyable stay in Mongolia and emphasized that many Mongolian alumni of Bulgarian universities and some factories, erected with a support of Bulgaria, have given big impetus to the bilateral relations. Mongolia and Bulgaria have a big chance to enhance their friendly relations and cooperation, he added. The inter-parliamentary ties play a big role in a development of the bilateral relations and cooperation, the Speaker said, and highlighted an importance of supporting direct ties between the legislative bodies and their offices. Mr Enkhbold is glad for re-opening of the Bulgaria-Mongolia inter-parliamentary group at the National Assembly of Bulgaria (parliament). He added that Mongolia wants to regularize the ties between the inter-parliamentary groups, to exchange information and experiences and to organize mutual visits. The Speaker said the two countries have great opportunities to restore the traditional cooperation in trade and economic spheres, and to boost the collaboration in food industry and infrastructure. Mongolian parliament is ready to support actions of widening the bilateral cooperation and activating the collaboration in other spheres. Mentioning that Mongolia became a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2012, Mr Enkhbold said Mongolia is ensuring a preparation for the autumn session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly which will run this September in Ulaanbaatar.