Kathmandu, Jan. 6 : Official talks were held between Nepal and Mongolia at the Prime Minister’s office at Singha Durbar today.
The talks were led by President Natsagiin Bagabandi on the Mongolian side and by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on the Nepalese side.
On the occasion, a framework agreement on bilateral cooperation was signed envisaging cooperation in various fields including agriculture, livestock, pasture and handicrafts. The agreeemnt was signed in the presence of President Bagabandi and Prime Minister Koirala by Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola and Mongolian Foreign Minister L. Erdenechuluum.
At a press conference following the talks, President Bagabandi said the friendly relations between Mongolia and the Kingdom of Nepal go back centuries, and noted the increased development of these relations in the past l0 year.
He said despite difficulties such as geographical distance and transportation barriers, there are opportunities to suitably develop trade and economic relations between the two countries. We are interested in actively exploring potentials and possibilities available on both sides. There are avenues for cooperation, for example, in exploring application of technology and the experience of Nepalese handicrafts and yak molt hair processing in Mongolia, as well as supply of sheep wool and goat cahmere of Mongolia to Nepal, introduction of some of our experiences in animal husbandry into Nepal.
We are also looking into possible development of cooperation in tourism, culture and education, and health and humanitarian field, he said adding that there could be an exchange of experiences in the traditional medical sector.
He also said it is important for Mongolia to learn from the Nepalese experience in cooperation with the UN peace-keeping forces.
It will be important for us to maintain our friendly relations by bringing us more closer and to cooperate in all possible fields since our two countries share many things in common including location between big powers and being locked and small developing countries, he said.
Our talks and the document we signed consitute a new impetus to Mongolian- Nepalese partnerships by providing a route map for our relations in the 21st century and by consolidating the legal basis of our bilateral cooperation, he said and disclosed that with a view to facilitate strengthening of bilateral ties and cooperation, an Honorary Consul of Mongolia in Kathmandu has been appointed.
Asked about Mongolia’s attitude as a country located between two nuclear powers, he said we are in favour of the nuclear non proliferation treaty
He also said Mongolia fully supported Nepal’s Zone of Peace proposal.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that during the just concluded official talks between the delegations of Nepal and Mongolia, views were exchanged on a number of bilateral, regional and internal issues of common concern.
In a statement to the press after the conclusion of bilateral talks with the Mongolian delegation today, he said on the bilateral front we have agreed to explore further areas of cooperation in various fields including trade and investment, tourism, science and technology.
We have also agreed to continue to cooperate closely for promoting the cause of the landlocked developing countries in the various international fora, he said. The talks were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
We have just witnessed our two foreign minister signing the framework agreement in bilateral cooperation which envisages to foster cooperation between our two countries in various field including agriculture, livestock, pasture and handicrafts, and we have also agreed to establish a joint commission at the level of the two Foreign Minister which will act as an umbrella body to review the various aspects of bilateral relations, he said.
He expressed confidence that the present state visit of President Bagabandi will contribute in further strengthening the relations between the two countries, and described the visit as very fruitful and productive.