President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President,
I would like to say that I am very happy to meet you. To start, I would like to note that everything is going well in our relations; trade is growing on both sides, and agricultural product deliveries are increasing.
Last year our energy company reduced the rates for Mongolian consumers by 30 percent. I do not know how energy is distributed inside the country but RAO UES of Russia lowered its rates.
Soon we will celebrate a joint event that is important for both of our countries. I am referring to the 80th anniversary of the victory at Khalkin Gol next year. We can prepare for this and celebrate it. I think this is important both for Mongolia and Russia.
As for vital issues of economic cooperation, I would like to note the substantial increase – 2.7 percent – in freight transit volume, container traffic on the Ulaanbaatar Railway.
In general, there is room for improvement, and I think we will talk about this today.
President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga (retranslated): Good afternoon, Mr President.
I am happy to be here, at our third meeting. Allow me to congratulate you on your victory in the Russian presidential election.
Mongolia is hosting a very important event, Mongolia-Russia Initiative 2018. I believe you know about this. This event is very important. We have organized an exhibition of the latest Russian agricultural equipment. Within the framework of these events, we also signed an agreement on the parameters of railway transit traffic. I believe that this agreement will benefit Mongolia’s development.
Another event held within the framework of Mongolia-Russia Initiative 2018 was the performance of the Igor Moiseyev Folk Dance Ensemble. The last time this ensemble visited Mongolia was back in 1976: it held two shows in our country’s capital, and both were sold out.
Within the framework of this event, I held a meeting with Irkutsk Region Governor Sergei Levchenko, who came up with a suggestion on promoting cooperation. As far as I understand, you have agreed to this.
With the Transport Minister, we have been discussing this project as well as various areas of cooperation, such as the construction of gas and oil pipelines, and roads and railways.
To implement these agreements, we need to reach complete understanding between both sides.
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