Mongolia denies nuclear waste talks will be held during Biden visit

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar on Friday denied that any talks on accepting nuclear waste materials in Mongolia would be held during the upcoming visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

"There was never any discussion on storing nuclear waste in Mongolia. We have sent an official letter to the Japanese newspaper Mainichi to correct the false information," Zandanshatar said.

The Mainichi daily has reported that Japan and the U.S. planned to jointly build a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Mongolia to serve customers of their nuclear plant exporters.

Several Mongolian civil groups including Green Coalition, Just Society Front, Fire-Nation group are planning to hold protests during Biden's visit.

The groups consider that government officials held secret talks with Japan and the United States to accept and store nuclear waste materials in Mongolia.

Biden will meet with President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold on Monday. They will discuss strengthening cooperation between Mongolia and the United States and the development of the comprehensive partnership, a press release from foreign ministry said.

Mongolia is the second leg of Biden's nine-day Asia tour. His trip also includes China and Japan.

Editor: Zhang Xiang

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