Before signing a series of documents, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, introduced the members of their official delegations to each other at Sukhbaatar Square in front of the Government House.
The President of Kazakhstan was greeted by honor guard soldiers in formal attire and heroic cavalrymen. The anthems of Kazakhstan and Mongolia were played.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev left a commemorative note in the guestbook and proceeded to the negotiation hall.
During the closed negotiations, Tokayev referred to Mongolia as one of Kazakhstan's most important partners and emphasized the significance of his visit.
“I have arrived in Mongolia on a state visit at your invitation. It is a great honor for me and all members of the delegation. Today we will sign important bilateral documents, including a Joint Declaration on the establishment of strategic partnership. I am convinced that this step will enhance cooperation at all levels and open up broad prospects for the development of our two nations,” stated the President of Kazakhstan.
The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, noted that the visit of the President of Kazakhstan would improve relations between the two countries.
The heads of the two states discussed trade and economic issues, cooperation in agriculture, mining metallurgy, transportation, logistics, and finance. They also touched upon international agendas. After the negotiations, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was presented with a Kazakh-Mongolian dictionary.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, about 30 years have passed. This state visit takes place after 16 years. Our country views your visit as a foundation for defining the prospects and directions of bilateral cooperation in the near future. Your visit holds particular significance as it elevates the relations between the two countries to a completely new level, namely to the level of strategic partnership,” said the President of Mongolia.
In the expanded negotiations, the presidents and members of the official delegations discussed priority areas of cooperation.
“Kazakhstan holds the Mongolian people in high regard and always celebrates your country's achievements. Large-scale political, economic, and social reforms are being carried out at your initiative,” noted Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also thanked Mongolian athletes for their participation in the World Nomad Games held in Astana and noted that the quota for Mongolian students in Kazakhstan would be increased.
“Kazakh tour operators are ready to introduce Mongolian tourists to the ancient city of Turkestan, where the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is located, and the Ulytau region, which houses the mausoleum of Juchi Khan — the eldest son of Genghis Khan, as well as other tourist attractions. We are interested in developing the Altai tourism cluster with Mongolia and creating joint tourist routes,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Thus, Kazakhstan and Mongolia will interact across a range of sectors. Importantly, this includes the nuclear industry, which is particularly relevant given the recent decision made in the referendum on October 6 regarding the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. Mongolia is also planning to build a small modular nuclear power plant.
Thanks to the state visit, all planned agreements were reached, the president's press service reported.
“We will work together on the exploration and development of iron, phosphate, bauxite, and rare mineral deposits. Kazakh entrepreneurs are ready to explore the potential of Mongolia's mining sector. During the negotiations, we addressed transportation and logistics issues. One of the key tasks is to enhance the competitiveness of international corridors. This requires improving transportation links between our states and with third countries. This will facilitate an increase in cargo transportation volumes across our territories. It is important to effectively utilize the Trans-Caspian route and the North-South corridor,” noted the President of Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, on October 29, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit Kazakhstan. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed.