Russian Prime Minister's Visit To Mongolia Scheduled For First Half Of 2002

At the Government House on Wednesday Vice Premier Aleksei Gordeyev and Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvasangiin Erdenechuluun discussed preparations for Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's visit to Mongolia scheduled for the first half of 2002. Gordeyev heads the intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and Mongolia. The negotiators discussed the preparation for an intergovernmental commission meeting to be held in Moscow on December 18 or 19, the vice premier told RIA Novosti after the meeting. In addition, representatives of all Russian regions party to the Siberian Agreement Association are scheduled to meet representatives of Mongolian authorities and business circles in Irkutsk (East Siberia) on November 6. According to Gordeyev, the coming Moscow meetings will focus on the work of the fuel and energy complex and companies of nonferrous metallurgy and meat supplies from Mongolia to Russia. At the moment trade and economic relations between the two countries are developing fast, Aleksei Gordeyev stated. He believes last year's visit by President Putin to Mongolia was an influence.