"This will be the first state visit by an Indonesian president to Mongolia after a gap of 10 years," Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Imron Cotan said.Ulan Bator, Mongolia (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to make an official visit to Mongolia from September 5 to 7, an official said on Tuesday.
"This will be the first state visit by an Indonesian president to Mongolia after a gap of 10 years," Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Imron Cotan told ANTARA News.
"It will be appropriate for Indonesia to refresh bilateral relations with Mongolia through this state visit," he stated.
Indonesia and Mongolia first established diplomatic relations on December 21, 1956. "The relationship between the two countries spans more than 50 years and has continued to grow in a positive direction," Cotan pointed out.
This has resulted in a positive collaboration between Indonesia and Mongolia, especially in the areas of advancement of democracy, international cooperation and maintaining a common stance towards regional as well as international issues, he said.
"Mongolia chairs the Community of Democracies, which was set up a year after Indonesia initiated the Bali Democracy Forum in 2010. This offers evidence to support that the two countries share a similar view when it comes to the advancement of democracy," Cotan noted.
After upholding diplomatic relations for over half a century, the two countries have now agreed to cooperate on a number of programmes that will focus on technical, economic and investment promotion and protection as well as plant quarantine collaboration.
During his visit, President Yudhoyono is expected to hold talks with his counterpart President Tsakhia Elbegdorj on the two countries` relations, and regional and international developmental issues.
"Two MOUs will be signed for education cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and on food and agriculture," Cotan said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
