MONGOLIA-FRANCE JOINT DECLARATION

MONGOLIA-FRANCE JOINT DECLARATION

At the invitation of President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, paid a State Visit to Mongolia on May 21-22, 2023.

The State Visit marked the first-ever visit to Mongolia of a French President since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965, and it aimed at upgrading the relations between both countries to a higher level. Mongolia sees France as an important Third Neighbour, while France considers Mongolia to be a Privileged Partner.

The two sides reaffirmed a strong partnership between the two countries, based on mutual respect and on common values of democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law. They reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and multilateralism, to preserve international peace and stability, and to promote sustainable development.

Mongolia supports the objectives of the Summit on New Global Financial Pact convened by France in June, for a world that is better-equipped to address our global challenges, achieving the sustainable development goals and our climate and nature objectives.

The two Presidents expressed their satisfaction at the increasing level of bilateral interactions between governments, businesses as well as of people to people exchanges.

The two leaders also discussed a wide range of regional and global issues. They reiterated that international disputes should be resolved by peaceful means and with respect for the United Nations Charter and international law, including the principles of sovereignty and respect for the independence and territorial integrity of states. To this end, both nations expressed concern over the suffering of civilian population and the bombing of civilian infrastructures in Ukraine, and would support any effort to foster a restoration of a sustainable peace based on international law.

Both leaders underlined the importance of non-proliferation, including in the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, France calls the DPRK to respect UN resolutions, and appreciates Mongolia’s efforts to promote dialogue in North-East Asia.

With a view to advancing national and global common agenda based on common values to promote prosperity, gender equality, feminist foreign policy and sustainable development, and in order to tackle major global challenges, including mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, ensuring energy and food security, promoting global health, protecting the global space of information and communication, advancing peace and security in contributing to UN Peace-keeping operations, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and fight against terrorism, the two sides agreed to broaden their cooperation in the following areas:

1. To strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in political, defense and civil security field, in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, telecommunication and technology, industrialization, education as well as science, culture and sports.
2. To encourage an exchange of high-level visits, political consultations and active engagement between Parliamentary friendship groups, within the framework of political cooperation.
3. To regularly consult on the agenda of the UN and other international organizations, particularly, on issues of peace, security, international law, fight against desertification, climate change, feminist diplomacy as well as elections in international organizations.
4. To continue to promote the cooperation in the defense sector particularly, “Khaan Quest” multinational annual exercise as well as the UN peace-keeping operations. Furthermore, to support the cooperation between defense institutions, including their capacity building, French language and specialized trainings for Mongolian personnel.
5. To Continue the joint projects in the field of civil security and strengthen the cooperation between National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia and Directorate General of Civil Security and Crisis Management of France, particularly to enhance capacities, conduct trainings for disaster relief national team of Mongolia that meet the international standards and criteria to contribute to international disaster relief operations.
6. Within the framework of economic cooperation, to strongly promote and support Mongolia-France trade turnover and foreign direct investment, including promoting a favorable business climate and stable and sustainable legal environment.
7. Based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Mongolia and the European Union, to deepen the Mongolia-France economic cooperation and to promote the full implementation of Generalized Scheme of Preferences /GSP+/.
8. To broaden the cooperation in the field of space studies for peaceful purposes, including communication satellite.
9. While attaching significant importance to the sustainable development, to maintain the full implementation of the “Ulaanbaatar cable car transport project” which is environmentally friendly and supported and financed by French side.
10. To cooperate in mitigating climate change and green house emission by synergizing their commitments as well as the “Billion trees” national movement of Mongolia and French initiatives taken in this area, especially during the One Forest Summit in Libreville, and to promote this agenda in all relevant international fora.
11. While welcoming Mongolia’s participation as Guest of Honor at “Sommet de l’Elevage” held in October 2022 in Clermont-Ferrand, to intensify their cooperation in agricultural sector, particularly in the fields of livestock husbandry, geographical indication, food processing, food security, veterinary services.
12. Within the cooperation in energy sector, to intensify the negotiation on draft agreements of investment and shareholders on the Zuuvch-Ovoo joint project to be implemented by “Badrakh Energy LLC” joint venture, with a view to conclude the agreements in the Autumn. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to facilitate and increase existing and future French investment in renewable energy as well as to cooperate in the diversification of energy sources and in energy transition.
13. To extend the cooperation in health sector through exploring the possibility of further developing capacity building and exchange program for personnel of traumatology and cancer.
14.  To deepen the cooperation in education, science and culture. In this regards, two sides agreed to enlarge the “Mission-2100” initiative as well as joint scholarship programs that would enable to increase human resources in agriculture, biotechnology, renewable energy, nuclear energy and radioactive minerals for peaceful purposes. The sides remain fully committed to promote Mongolian language learning in France and vice-versa.
15. To boost the cooperation in culture and archeology. In that respect, the two sides will support the exhibition titled “Genghis Khaan-Mongolians changed the world” to be opened at the History Museum of Nantes under the auspices of the two Presidents. Furthermore, they will collaborate on opening the exhibition in Mongolia as well as in other countries.
16. To foster the cooperation in cinematography and work towards joint film production as well as to concluding relevant legal documents in that regard.
17. To broaden the cooperation in tourism sector and to encourage arrangements of direct commercial flights between Mongolia and France.
18. While Mongolian side expresses its best wishes for a successful organization of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a major international sporting festival, both sides agreed to extend their support to cooperation between their Olympic and Paralympic national teams.