Ulaanbaatar, 4 September 2024 (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Mongolia and held talks with President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh.
This visit attracted global attention due to Putin’s arrest warrant issued by the ICC, with Mongolia being a signatory to the Court.
However, Mongolia ignored all the international calls to arrest Putin over the alleged war crimes committed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Warm Welcome and Strategic Agreements Signed
On September 3rd, Putin arrived in Mongolia to a warm reception, including a red carpet laid in his honour.
He attended a ceremony commemorating the 85th anniversary of the joint Soviet-Mongolian victory over the Japanese army.
The event honoured the deadly fighting over the border between then-Japan-controlled Manchuria and Mongolia.
In addition, the two governments signed a series of agreements including but not limited to upgrading a power plant in Ulaanbaatar and supplying Russian aviation fuel to Mongolia.
They also agreed to conduct an environmental study on a river where Mongolia plans to build a hydroelectric plant, that can potentially pollute Russia’s Lake Baikal.
Putin also announced plans to enhance the rail system connecting the two countries.
Putin also extended an invitation to the Mongolian president to attend the BRICS summit, which includes Russia, China, and other member countries.
The event is scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia, in late October. According to Russian state media, Khurelsukh accepted the invitation.
Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Highlighted
Mongolian President said that Putin’s current visit to Mongolia holds significance in giving the bilateral relations between the two countries an economic substance.
He said that Russia is a major trade partner of Mongolia and the trade volume has substantially increased in recent years.
On the other hand, Putin underscored that Russia is one of Mongollia’s largest economic partners and the trade between the two countries during the first seven months of 2024 has increased by 21 percent.
Putin said that he also discussed the prospects of peaceful nuclear development and humanitarian cooperation with Mongolian officials.
Also Read: Vladimir Putin to Visit Mongolia Amid ICC Warrant
Finally, he thanked the Mongolian government and citizens for their warm welcome and hospitality and boarded back to Russia.
