AKIPRESS.COM - Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament Byambatsogt Sandag received Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia Igawahara Masaru on May 13, Montsame reported.

Speaker Byambatsogt emphasized that the Parliament attaches great importance to strengthening friendly relations and cooperation with Japan, Mongolia's special strategic partner. He highlighted the historic first state visit of Japan's Emperor and Empress to Mongolia in 2025.

Byambatsogt also noted that the visit to Mongolia by a Japanese delegation led by Takebe Arata, member of Japan's House of Representatives and Head of the Office of the Japan-Mongolia Friendship Association, demonstrated the important role parliaments and parliamentary friendship groups play in deepening bilateral relations.

He expressed confidence that the two countries would continue working together to intensify trade and economic cooperation - one of the key pillars of the Mongolia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership - and expand the volume and diversity of Mongolia's exports.

The two sides also reaffirmed that expediting the project to expand the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport through a concessional loan from the government of Japan would become a major driver for tourism development.

Ambassador Igawahara Masaru noted that he had previously worked with Byambatsogt during his tenure as Minister of Roads and Transport when the Chinggis Khaan International Airport project was first launched, and expressed pleasure at cooperating again during the project's next phase.

The Ambassador also expressed confidence that bilateral relations and friendship between the peoples of Mongolia and Japan would continue to deepen further ahead of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027.