Vladimir Putin's speech:
Mr Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have just finished talks with our Mongolian colleagues. We are very grateful to Mr Prime Minister for coming to Russia with such a representative delegation.
Our dialogue has been rather intensive. The exchange of opinions we had confirms our mutual striving for further development of bilateral partnership that is based on the principles of trust, equality and mutual advantage.
During the talks, we placed emphasis on trade, economic, and investment issues, which is only natural because in the current difficult situation of global financial and economic turmoil, only joint efforts can produce a positive result.
It is important that we can rely on our past achievements. In a preliminary estimate, in 2008 we reached a record $1.3 billion in trade, although we had originally planned to reach a billion-worth trade turnover no sooner than 2010.
On March 6, Moscow hosted the 13th session of the Russian-Mongolian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. The Commission has set some serious tasks, primarily on major joint projects on extracting minerals, such as uranium, and developing railways and agriculture.
Incidentally, we have agreed to grant Mongolia a $300 million loan for agricultural development, which will be paid in tranches. As I said, Mongolia will spend it on agriculture, on this year's sowing season and livestock breeding. This is a tied loan so it will be spent on the purchase of Russian agricultural equipment and other Russian commodities.
We have also spoken about an opportunity to conduct our trade and economic transactions in our national currencies - in roubles and in tugriks.
It goes without saying that traditionally friendly Russian-Mongolian relations are not limited to the economy. Human, cultural, scientific, educational, and other humanitarian relations have always had special significance for our peoples.
I can say in this context that starting this year, up to 230 Mongolian students will study in Russian higher educational institutions. We have expanded the quota to this number. We will continue the practice of training specialists for the Mongolian Defence Ministry.
This year, we are marking an important date - 70 years since our common victory on the Khalkin-Gol River. People in Russia and Mongolia cherish the memory of this heroic event in our common history. We are planning to stage large-scale government events for this jubilee.
Mr Bayar is visiting this country on the eve of the presidential elections in Mongolia. We wish our Mongolian friends every success in their electoral campaign. We are hoping that the elections will promote Mongolia's stable and democratic development.
In conclusion, I would like to say that we have outlined important large-scale plans. Their implementation meets the interests of the Russian and Mongolian people. Moreover, it is of major regional and international significance. For this reason, we are going to do everything to translate these plans into reality.
I'd like to thank my Mongolian colleague and all our friends from Mongolia for today's constructive and productive work.
Many thanks.
Sanjaagiin Bayar's speech:
Many thanks, Mr Putin.
First of all, I'd like to thank you for this opportunity to visit Moscow with a delegation of representatives, and discuss the issues and prospects of our cooperation. I'd like to note that we have conducted successful talks in the traditional atmosphere of friendship and trust. During the talks we have reaffirmed our commitment to the established relations of friendship and good-neighbourliness between our nations.
We have expressed interest in the steady development of comprehensive bilateral relations, with a special emphasis on strategic partnership. Regular political dialogue at a top level is playing a very important role in our relations. It is permanent, systematic, and gives us a chance to touch base several times per year. This is very good.
We have been gratified to mention the successful development of military and military-technical cooperation between our countries. Russia is helping us upgrade our armed forces and military equipment, and train military personnel.
We have agreed with the Russian Prime Minister to develop cooperation in different spheres of the economy, but mainly in developing the transportation infrastructure, primarily railways. We have agreed to set up a joint venture with Russian Railways, and to cooperate in using Mongolia's natural resources and implementing large joint investment projects on Mongolian territory.
This is a special year, a year of jubilee celebrations. This year, we will mark 50 years since the Virgin Lands Campaign. In this context, I'd like to emphasise the importance of the memorandum on Rosselkhozbank's loan to the consortium of Mongolian banks. It will be granted on manageable terms negotiated by our governments. How will we agree on a tranche? This year, we are hoping to get half of the sum. First of all, we need funds for the sowing season. We are interested in large-scale purchases of Russian-made agricultural equipment, seeds and mineral fertilizer.
Last year, we launched a government programme on developing abandoned areas of the virgin lands. This programme has produced results, and we are hoping to bring it to a successful completion with the help of our Russian colleagues.
This year, we will celebrate the jubilee of our shared railways. In this context, I have reaffirmed an invitation to Mr Putin to visit Mongolia. Almost nine years have passed since President Putin's historic visit to our country. It was in winter, and it was cold. I'd like him to come to our country in June when the weather is good. We are inviting you, Mr Putin.
Both sides have also agreed to mark together the 70th anniversary since the common victory on the Khalkin-Gol. Our President, Nambaryn Enkhbayar, has sent an invitation to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to visit Mongolia for this jubilee's celebration.
We have spoken not only about our bilateral cooperation, but also about our joint international efforts - in the regional framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and also on the world scene, for instance, in the United Nations. We believe that in conditions of globalisation, the growing interdependence of countries and regions, differences and crises should be regulated in strict conformity with the principles and norms of international law on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions, and by way of diplomatic negotiations with due account of the legal interests of all parties concerned.
Summing up, we think that this was a good visit. We have had many contacts in a short span of time. A party delegation has arrived here with me. We are interested in consolidating relations with United Russia, and have agreed on concrete measures between our parties. Our specialists will continue to be trained in Russian higher educational institutions. This agreement is very important for us. I think Mongolian young men and women will be glad to hear about this.
Thank you very much.