In Irkutsk, the Mongolian government delegation held talks with Russian representatives on cooperation in agriculture and nuclear energy. A key result was an agreement to create a joint venture to develop and process uranium deposits in both countries. Participants stressed the special role of Irkutsk Oblast in Russian Mongolian relations and called the agreements the start of concrete projects.

On Thursday, a delegation of the Mongolian government headed by Prime Minister Sanjijn Bayar visited Irkutsk. In one day, it held a series of talks with guests from Moscow no less senior. Issues of Russian-Mongolian cooperation in the agro-industrial complex were discussed during a trilateral meeting of Sanjijn Bayar, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev, and Governor Igor Yesipovsky. Cooperation in nuclear energy was considered at a meeting with the head of the state corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko.
The broad range of issues raised during the talks in Irkutsk underscores that Russia and Mongolia have entered a phase of implementing concrete projects, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev noted at a briefing. As a reminder, he also heads the Intergovernmental Russian-Mongolian Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation. At the same time, according to the minister, cross-border contacts play the primary role, which is why holding talks of this level in the capital of the Angara region is no coincidence. Irkutsk, Alexei Gordeyev stressed, is a center of relations between the two countries, alongside Moscow and Ulaanbaatar. In addition, he recalled, four years ago the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission was held here as well.
Igor Yesipovsky noted that the meetings showed that the directions identified as key both for bringing peoples closer together and for bringing sectors of the economy closer together have remained unchanged and are reinforced by new plans and ideas. And the fact that prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation are born precisely on Irkutsk soil is especially important.
The role of Irkutsk in relations between the two partner states was also emphasized by Sanjijn Bayar:
– About 60% of Mongolia’s trade turnover with Russia falls on the Irkutsk Region. The Irkutsk Region has made it possible for many residents of Mongolia, including me, to receive a higher education.
Cooperation in the agro-industrial complex plays a special role in relations between the countries. Foreign trade between Russia and Mongolia is characterized by growing figures in the turnover of agricultural products and foodstuffs. Our country supplies its neighbors with wheat, flour, sunflower oil, milk, and chocolate. Meat is mainly supplied from Mongolia to Russia. A round table with the participation of Alexei Gordeyev, Igor Yesipovsky, and Sanjijn Bayar was devoted to the issue of developing economic ties. Then the Mongolian delegation headed by Minister of Agriculture, Food and Light Industry Tunjin Badamjunai visited the Irkutsk State Agricultural Academy. And on Friday, Alexei Gordeyev and Sanjijn Bayar plan to visit the Irkutsk Meat Processing Plant and the Teplichnoye farm in Angarsk.
Also in Irkutsk, Russia and Mongolia agreed to create a joint venture for the development of uranium deposits on the territory of both countries. Sergei Kiriyenko announced this following a meeting between representatives of Rosatom and the Mongolian delegation. He noted that the agreement on cooperation and the creation of the joint venture should be signed by the end of the first quarter of this year. At present, Sergei Kiriyenko noted, a company is being created in Mongolia that will deal with all issues of uranium mining, development programs, and personnel training. On the Russian side, Atomredmetzoloto will take part in the project.
– The joint venture will not be limited only to the extraction of natural uranium; it will also be engaged in its processing. Possessing huge uranium reserves, Mongolia rightly sees its prospects not only in the extraction of raw materials, but also in the further development of the technological chain, – the head of Rosatom noted.
To consolidate relations between the two countries, it was decided to sign by the end of the first half of the year an intergovernmental agreement on support and protection of investments within the framework of the development of the nuclear industry. In addition, Sergei Kiriyenko noted, cooperation will be open to third countries. In particular, Rosatom is currently holding talks with a group of Japanese companies.
As for Mongolia’s participation in the International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk, this will be the next step in cooperation, Sergei Kiriyenko noted. At present, this country does not have nuclear power, so participation in the IUEC is not yet of interest to it.
Mongolian Prime Minister Sanjijn Bayar was satisfied with the talks:
– Mongolia has big plans in this area: we have resources, and Russia has good experience in the extraction and processing of uranium ores. This cooperation is designed for decades; it is important that it proceed in accordance with all international standards.
In addition, the prime minister noted, Mongolia’s plans are not limited only to the extraction and processing of uranium. The country is interested in building small- and medium-scale nuclear power plants. For reference: at present, the explored uranium reserves in Mongolia exceed 60,000 tons, and there are a number of promising deposits.
In February, it is planned to hold another meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Ulaanbaatar, where the results of last year and plans for the near future will be discussed. Then it will also be possible to speak about the concrete results of the agreements reached in Irkutsk.