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The discussion focussed on cooperation between the two countries, particularly in transportation.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President,

I am very happy to have this opportunity to meet with you on the sidelines of the Shanghai events. Our relations have traditionally been very warm and friendly in nature. Currently, Russia firmly holds second place as Mongolia’s trade partner. We have many, or in any case, we have good joint ventures, large ones, which we have inherited from previous years, but we also have good prospects. So I am very happy for the opportunity to meet and talk with you.

In the lobby, you and I just discussed the events pertaining to the well-known developments on the eve of World War II – the battle at Khalkhin Gol. Of course, we should think about how we can hold all these events together and how to move forward, in the sense of good political relations, the level of political contacts, how to transform them into developing the economy.

President OF MONGOLIA TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ: Thank you very much.

To save time, I will speak in Russian.

Thank you, Mr President, for providing this opportunity.

We traditionally have good relations and many opportunities. I will focus on three issues, three topics. The first, of course, is the issue of connecting railways and transport. As you know, Mongolia is a nation that lies entirely between Russia and China. The shortest path is via railways. So we should probably consider how we can take advantage of these opportunities, how to implement major economic projects, infrastructure projects. We are also working on a draft trilateral agreement on through transit, as well as a bilateral agreement between our nations on through transit. In addition, we are about to renew the 1949 agreements on establishing the Ulaanbaatar Railway.

It is true that we have a strategic relationship between our nations. When I say it is “strategic” in nature, I am referring to our fundamental national interests, so I call these relations strategic.

This year, we will mark the 75^th anniversary of the battle at Khalkhin Gol. We marked the 70^th anniversary of this great date together in Mongolia. I also prepared a large report on implementing the declaration we signed. Many issues have already been resolved and we are in the process of addressing many others. There are issues that we can resolve in a trilateral format.

I suppose it is time for us to also consider preferential or visa-free travel by our citizens between our nations. We are prepared to discuss these issues. I had a very good meeting with President Xi Jinping and told him that perhaps we will organise a trilateral meeting in Ulaanbaatar. There, we will discuss issues that can only be resolved trilaterally. I would like to invite you, Mr President, this year in August, perhaps in the second half of August, to Ulaanbaatar. There, we can discuss these issues.

Vladimir Putin: For my part, I would also like to invite you to Russia at any time that is convenient for you. We can coordinate this via Foreign Ministry channels. Thank you for the invitation.

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