03/20/2009, 00.00
RUSSIA – MONGOLIA
Send to a friend

Moscow granting Mongolia agricultural loan

The two countries’ prime ministers signed a number of economic agreements a few days ago. Moscow tries to rebuild special ties with Ulaan Baatar, weakened by Soviet collapse.
Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Russia is set to grant Mongolia a loan of US$ 300 million (about € 220 million) to help support Mongolia's agricultural sector. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made the announcement on Tuesday in Moscow at the end of a meeting with his Mongolian counterpart, Sanjaagin Bayar. The first instalment of US$ 150 million should be made this year.

The two leaders have reportedly reached an agreement to pursue a railway joint venture. Russia has also agreed to continue training Mongolian military officers.

Nikolai Spassky, deputy head of the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, signed a cooperation agreement with Sodnomyn Enhbat, head of the Mongolian Nuclear Energy Agency, which paves the way for a joint venture to develop uranium deposits and build a nuclear power plant in Mongolia.

Despite the Russian economy coming under increasing stress, the Kremlin is still pursuing a policy of handing out credits and other forms of assistance to foreign governments for political reasons, experts say.

Mongolia and Russia have always had close relations, so much so that during the Soviet era Ulaan Baatar was considered the capital of the 16th Soviet Republic.

Ties became somewhat looser after the collapse of the Soviet system, but remain strong. Russian companies are actively involved in Mongolia’s natural resource sectors, exploiting coal fields and precious metal deposits.

Russia is Mongolia’s top trading partner; two-way trade reached US$ 1.3 billion last year.

In 2003 the Kremlin forgave Mongolia’s debt to Russia, estimated at US$ 11 billion (about € 8 billion).

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
With the state of emergency over Mongolia ponders its future
08/07/2008
Moscow sets out to conquer Mongolia’s gold, coal and copper
19/05/2009
Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang rise as Cold War fears cast a shadow over Korea
12/02/2016 15:14
Myanmar military want to buy Russian nuclear power plants
08/09/2022
Mongolia set to elect next President
09/06/2021


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”