AKIPRESS.COM - Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Friday in Tokyo to accelerate ongoing efforts to draw up a 2017-2021 action plan to strengthen the bilateral relationship, reports The Japan Times.

Erdenebat chose Japan as the destination of his first diplomatic tour after he was appointed in early July, underlining his intention to place great importance on Mongolia’s ties with Japan.

During a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Office, Erdenebat thanked Abe for expressing his intention to provide “generous support” for middle to long-term development of the Mongolian economy.

On Thursday Japan and Mongolia held a forum in Tokyo to attract more trade and investment by Japanese firms to Mongolia.

Erdenebat said he believes the event will give “major momentum” to expanding the range of bilateral economic ties.

During a joint conference after their meeting, Abe touted Mongolia as “a strategic partner” of Japan that shares basic values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Abe said the two leaders “had a very meaningful discussion” on the security threat posed by North Korea and agreed to “keep cooperating” on the matter.

Mongolia is one of the few countries that has relatively strong political ties with the hermit state.