Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 March (BelTA) – Belarus views Mongolia as a promising partner in the Asian region, Belarusian Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko said as he met with Minister of Construction and Urban Development of Mongolia Zangad Bayanselenge on 11 March, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian government.

“The mutual trade turnover is still insufficient. It is considerably lower than the existing potential between the two countries,” noted Vladimir Semashko. Thus, in 2015 the trade totaled $23.2 million (export at $23.1 million, import at $0.1 million).

According to Vladimir Semashko, intensification of contacts between the two countries at every level will form a robust base for mutually beneficial cooperation.

In his words, the countries have been steadily developing cooperation in the recent years. The joint Belarusian-Mongolian commission for trade and economic cooperation was set up in 2013. It is more than a year and a half since Belarus opened its diplomatic representation in Mongolia. The two states have resumed contacts at the supreme, high and interagency levels, considerably expanded the bilateral legal framework, intensified trade and economic cooperation. “We are interested in maximizing the use of the still untapped potential of the bilateral cooperation. Our priority is the development of trade and economic relations,” stressed Vladimir Semashko.

According to the Vice Premier, Belarus is ready not only to sell its products to Mongolia and bring the bilateral relations onto a qualitatively new level. Belarus is also ready to take part in the vehicle park upgrading programs, setting up joint companies in automobile manufacturing, mining sector, providing the corresponding economic sectors of Mongolia with necessary types of vehicles.