Mongolia, Germany pledge to develop comprehensive partnership

Mongolian and German leaders have pledged to further the comprehensive partnership between the two countries and strengthen cooperation in a variety of areas. The two countries signed bilateral cooperation agreements in mineral, energy and technological sectors during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's stay here on Thursday. Mongolian Primer Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold said pursuing a comprehensive partnership with Germany was Mongolia's priority. He said Mongolia and Germany had made great achievements in bilateral cooperation and there was still great potential. "Mongolia will provide favorable conditions to promote investment from Germany," Batbold said. He said Germany was Mongolia's main partner in Europe, adding his government also wanted to develop cooperation with the European Union. The two leaders agreed that the two countries are complementary in their economies, as Mongolia owns abundant natural resources while Germany has advanced technologies. At a press conference here, Merkel said Mongolia has made great achievements in economic development and social progress in recent years, and Germany is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with it. While addressing Mongolian lawmakers, Merkel said Germany was a "reliable" economic partner and would support Mongolia's investment in social sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. She specifically said some businessmen in the German delegation can contribute to Mongolian infrastructure development. It was Merkel's first visit to Mongolia. During her visit, she met Mongolian soldiers who served as peacekeepers under German military command in south Afghanistan. Mongolia was Merkel's second and final destination of a four-day Asian tour that also took her to Vietnam.