Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Mr R.Gonchigdorj, one of the Vice speakers of parliament. received Friday delegates of the Russian Federation, Hungary, the Great Britain, Austria and Pakistan, who are representing their countries at the 9th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP) in Ulaanbaatar.

The Vice Speaker discussed with them issues of the bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as inter-parliamentary ties, and thanked them for taking part in the ASEP9.

He underlined an importance of the inter-parliamentary ties and of the groups at the legislative bodies in boosting of the bilateral relations and cooperation, and talked about the foreign policy of Mongolia on deepening the ties with the countries.

Officials of the Russian State Duma and Federation Council spoke about the upcoming parliamentary election of Russia in September this year, and asked the Mongolian side to participate in this election as an observer. They expressed a willingness of Russia to expand the inter-parliamentary ties and the relations between groups.

A Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian parliament Mr Istvan Hiller underlined that Mongolia and Hungary can broaden their relations in all spheres. He said the PM of Hungary plans to take part in the 11th ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar.

Mr Istvan stressed a significance of expanding the cooperation in the educational sector and of training Mongolian students in Hungarian universities and institutes for making the bilateral relations closer.

At the meeting, a member of the Austrian parliament Mr Andreas Karlsboc said the Austria-Mongolia friendly relations and cooperation have been expanding, then highlighted that Austria sees Mongolia as its one of the important partners, and expressed a readiness to train Mongolian students on high-tech of mining.

During a meeting with a delegation from Pakistan--members of Senate Mushahid Ullahan and Gous Nyazi--the Vice Speaker Gonchigdorj said Mongolia aspires to widen the relations and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Affirming that Mongolia has a willingness to activate friendly ties with Pakistan in all spheres, Gonchidorj said the two countries can boost the cooperation and added Mongolia intends to start political and economic talks with Pakistan in order to fulfill these goals.

A member of the House of Commons at the UK parliament Mr Mark Hendrick congratulated Mongolia on hosting the ASEP9.

The Vice Speaker emphasized an importance of the 12th Mongolia-UK roundtable meeting held last month in London, and informed him about the Mongolia-London business forum to run this April 26-27 in London. He said Mongolia wants to introduce British experiences in a legal landscape of the capital market, its stable actions and some proper parts. He is hopeful the British side will participate in the 11th ASEM Summit with high level officials.

The parties exchanged views on the Mongolia-UK relations in politics, economy, business as well as the inter-parliamentary ties.