Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs recently expressed in an interview with the media the country’s eagerness to further enhance cooperation with Japan, particularly in the aviation sector.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg stated last week at the annual “Future of Asia” forum organized by Nikkei News that Mongolia aims to ensure it does not overly rely on any single country.
Situated between China and Russia, Mongolia has long pursued a policy of “third neighbor diplomacy” and has positioned Japan as one of its cooperation partners under this policy. The Foreign Minister stated that this policy has been successful and emphasized that Mongolia has been actively advancing its relationships with various partner countries.
In recent years, the relationship between Mongolia and Japan has deepened. Last year, Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako made a state visit to Mongolia, marking the first visit to the country by the Japanese imperial couple.
Minister Battsetseg mentioned, “We have set the goal to develop Mongolia as a hub and a key gateway to Central Asia.”
One of the key areas of focus between Mongolia and Japan is in the aviation sector. The Chinggis Khaan International Airport near the capital Ulaanbaatar was constructed using loans denominated in Japanese yen, with Battsetseg describing it as a “significant project symbolizing the friendly relations between the two countries.”
The airport started operations in 2021, albeit delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total yen loan for the project amounts to 65.6 billion yen (approximately $410 million at the current exchange rate), with the involvement of four Japanese companies – Mitsubishi Corporation, Narita International Airport, Japan Airport Terminal, and Jalux in the airport’s operation.
According to the Japanese government, the new airport replaced the old international airport. The former airport frequently experienced flight delays and cancellations due to geographical and weather conditions. Battsetseg stated, “We initially anticipated an annual passenger traffic of 2 million, but now the planning needs to accommodate 5 million passengers,” underscoring the increasing importance of airport expansion as travel demands grow.
Last Tuesday, Battsetseg met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo, and both agreed to further strengthen the “special strategic partnership.” Motegi expressed Japan’s willingness to cooperate on the airport expansion project.
Battsetseg also emphasized the importance of cooperation with Japan in the energy, agricultural processing, education, and healthcare sectors.