Good day, Ladies and Gentlemen,

His Excellency Mr. Andris Bērziņš, President of Latvia accepted my invitation and is paying a visit to Mongolia.

The official talks I had with Mr. President was held in a friendly and open atmosphere: we have assessed the current state of our bilateral relations and discussed in details the perspectives of our future cooperation. We have exchanged views and expressed our positions on the current issues in international relations.

I would like to underscore that our two countries need to intensify our relations and cooperation. Mongolia has been observing Latvia’s efforts and progress made in successfully surmounting an economic crisis and firmly embarking upon dynamic economic growth. Although many miles separate our two countries, we have been supporting each other in international fora on issues of mutual interest, and we have agreed to continue and consolidate our cooperation.

To expand our relations, we need to bring our bilateral trade and economic cooperation onto a new level. In this regard, I welcome the Latvian businesses, accompanying President Bērziņš on this visit, and commend the holding of a business forum with Mongolian businesses.

I would like to point out that guided by the desire to promote people-to-people relations between Mongolian and Latvian peoples, the two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in culture, education and science.

We have just signed Agreements between the Governments of Mongolia and Latvia on Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, on International Transport by Road as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of two countries as a permanent mechanism in our relations. In recent years the legal basis for our bilateral relations and cooperation has been established and thus are being further strengthened.

I am confident that the President Bērziņš’s meetings with our state and government officials will be fruitful.

Once again, I heartily welcome Your Excellency Mr.President to Mongolia. I wish you and your delegation a memorable and successful visit.
Thank you.

After, President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš delivered the following press statement:
First of all, I would like to thank the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj for his invitation to visit Mongolia on an official visit. I have already had an opportunity to meet Mr Elbegdorj some time ago when I got to know him as an energetic and strategically thinking person.

We have good relations with Mongolia, and they have great potential for development. Interest of Latvia about Mongolia is also proved by a large delegation consisting of representatives of the Parliament, government, and business.

We mark the twentieth anniversary since establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries this year. The President of Mongolia visited Latvia quite a time ago, in 2003. And I am pleased that today I could continue this exchange of visits.

Mongolia has become an attractive country where economy shows steady and rapid growth. Its reforms and success in creating a democratic society are appreciated.

Latvia and Mongolia share participation in ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Similarly, presence of Mongolian soldiers in peacekeeping missions must be mentioned, which reaffirms the global vision of Mongolia’s responsibility.

Today President Elbegdorj and I also discussed urgent international issues affecting the established security mechanisms in our regions.

Our lands are separated by great geographical distance. Our countries have different economic structures. But exactly the differences allow and enable us to complement each other and make each other better. We are not competitors, we are and we can be good partners.

Trade between our countries has great opportunities to grow and diversify. Therefore, I hope Latvian- Mongolian business forum hosted today will result in particular agreements on cooperation. I believe that transport and logistics sectors in both countries must find ways to use the potential by linking both regions. Food industry has good cooperative incentives, which can serve as a good basis for further development of cooperation.

I am also looking forward to a high-level round table discussion on opportunities for cooperation in the field of education being planned tomorrow.

I am sure that just the bilateral documents just signed today will provide a new framework for cooperation among state authorities and businesses in both countries.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Latvian delegation and myself to the President of Mongolia Elbegdorj for the opportunity to visit this hospitable country. You are welcome to Latvia! Thank you!