BEIJING, CHINA – In a bid to strengthen cooperation with Asian neighbors, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte held his first bilateral meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat on 14 May 2017.

During their warm and cordial first meeting, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and pledged to further enhance economic and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders exchanged views on expanding interaction in many areas, including in agriculture, trade and investment, finance, and tourism, among others. They also noted the desirability of an exchange of visits among the senior officials of their respective countries in order to explore opportunities to expand economic, political, and cultural ties.

On strengthening political and institutional relations, Prime Minister Erdenebat said that Mongolia looked forward to convening the next round of consultations in order to review and strengthen the cooperation of the two sides.

In discussing regional developments, President Duterte expressed his view that peace is better served when there is more participation by stakeholders in the region. As Chair of ASEAN in 2017, President Duterte also welcomed Mongolia’s growing ties with the region. The President thus felt that closer partnership with ASEAN, including Mongolia’s possible membership, would be desirable, and he said that he would take up the matter with ASEAN leaders.

Both leaders also expressed the desirability of visiting each others’ countries at mutually convenient dates.

Mongolia is host to more than 200 Filipinos, a number of whom work in professional services. ###DFA/PND