Mongolia Brief August 22, 2014 Part III
Stock
Exchange news for August 22
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
August 22 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Friday, a total of 3
million 736 thousand and 591 shares of 13 JSCs were traded costing 452 million
155 thousand and 579.00 Togrog.
"Genco
tour bureau” /3 million 515 thousand and 540 units/, “Mongolia Development”
/220 thousand 381 units/, “Bishrelt Industrial” /176/, “Gobi” /139/ and
"Remikon” /120 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading
volume, in terms of trading value were "Genco tour bureau” (MNT 316
million 398 thousand and 600), "Mongolia development” (MNT 132 million 258
thousand and 850), "Darkhan Nekhii” (MNT one million 188 thousand and
200), "Gobi” (MNT one million 98 thousand and 100) and "Bishrelt industrial”
(MNT 792 thousand).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 621 billion 970 million 050
thousand and 130. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 16,000.02, of increasing 0.59%
against the previous day. The experimental index MSE ALL was 997.08, increasing
0.11% against the previous day.
"Motherland
is calling" in theatres, starting today
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
August 22 (MONTSAME) The premiere of the Mongolian “Ekh oron duudaj baina” (Motherland
is calling) feature film ran Friday, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the
Khalkh River Battle.
The movie
starts with three young men celebrating a friend’s birthday and having a good
time and playing with shotguns in a mountain, until when they were
suddenly transferred to the past, namely to the battlefield of Khalkh River of
1939.
The critics
view this movie as a work of international standards, as it was created with ASC-CDL
technology (used in Avengers and Iron Man).
The team
includes a director and author V.Agar, senior cameraman D.Angarag, producer
S.Ochirkhuyag, and young actors E.Uuganbayar, B.Battulga and G.Dulguun-Ayush.
Xi Jinping: I re-emphasize that China respects the
independence, territorial integrity and development choice of Mongolia
August 22
(business-mongolia.com) Xi Jinping: I re-emphasize that China respects the
independence, territorial integrity and development choice Mongolia, and it
will continue generation by generation.
Chairman Xi and
President Elbegdorj made media statement at the State Ceremonial Hall.
President Elbegdorj
said that “Chairman Xi Jinping is visiting to Mongolia first time as Chairman
of People’s Republic of China. Both parties agree that this state visit will
confirm the level of cooperation and established friendly relations between
Mongolia and China, and will further develop the current level and determine
the prospect of it.
During the
visit, Chairman Xi Jinping and I had personal meeting and official meeting. The
meeting was held under the great comfort and friendly atmosphere. We exchanged
our point of views on the interested issues and reached important conclusions
and agreements. The most importantly, we consider our relations as the profound
strategic partnership and signed on the memorandum of further development of
such relations. I would like to mention core principles of the Statement here:
“Parties will
mutually respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity, and adhere the principles of non-aggression stance, non-intervention
in the domestic affairs, mutually balanced and beneficial relations, and
peaceful co-existence and mutually respect each other’s development path.
Plus, he
emphasizes that “Parties shall not conduct any activities, sign any agreement
or pact, join any alliance and allow or accept any third countries,
organizations and alliances to perform any activities to harm and damage
each other’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Today’s joint
statement is clear expression of the historical importance of Chairman Xi’s
visit to Mongolia, and determines fundament of the two-nations’ relations,
confirms the willingness of further development of such relations, and opens
wide opportunity to mutually balanced and openly solve any issues between two
nations.
During the
visit, many negotiations and agreement was made between the Government
officials and Ministers of two countries and signs over 30 agreement and MoU.
This is the clear example of the visit’s constructiveness.
Since Mongolia
is being landlocked country, I would like to mention here the importance of
railway transit transportation agreement with People’s Republic of China.
Through the agreement, we solved many issues such as sea ports, new railway
border crossings, destinations, load capacity, terms of the agreement and other
exemptions.
We say …“Rain
welcomes good-will bearer” and it means you are the good will bearer and our
people welcome you with good heart. (Mongolian climate is mostly dry and when
rain comes herders are happy for their pasture and animal. Therefore, when
visitor coincides with rain coming, it is always respectful sign)
Chairman Xi
Jinping said that “…using this opportunity I would like to re-emphasize that
China respects the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and
development choice of the people of Mongolia. Also China considers
China-Mongolian relations as the primary direction of our foreign policy.
Together with Mongolia, China is ready to be a mutually trusted, responsible
and good neighbor, good friend and good partner. Through joint effort, we, as much
as Mongolia, are ready to become a heartfelt friendly neighbor with mutual
interests. Let’s work together to build joint prosperity and development
through cooperation and mutual support.
Two nations
will continue their cooperation in the projects of “Silk Road Economic Zone”,
“Steppe Road” initiative and Asian Business Development Bank. China supports
the Mongolian initiative of Three Nations Summit, China, Mongolia and Russia.
Today is nice
humid day. As President Elbegdorj said, cooperation humid is arriving together
with wind of friendship. It is a sign of improvement of the two nations
relations into the new era and new future.
I invite you
President Elbegdorj to the APEC Meeting which will be held in China this
November.
Official documents signed on Xi Jinping’s visit to Mongolia
August 22
(business-mongolia.com) Signed documents:
Joint Statement
on Development of profound strategic partnership relations between Mongolia and
People’s Republic of China
Inter-Governmental
Protocol on the performance of the bilateral agreement between Mongolia and
People’s Republic of China in 1949 – 2012.
Cooperation
Protocol between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China
Protocol on
official draft exchange of the Agreement on prisoner transfer between Mongolia
and People’s Republic of China
Inter-Governmental
Agreement on “access to the seaport and transit transport”
Inter-Governmental
General Agreement on development of cooperation of the railway transit
transport.
Inter-Governmental
Memorandum of Understanding on Development of Railway Cooperation.
Memorandum of
Understanding between Ministry of Road and Transportation of Mongolia and
Railway Authority of People’s Republic of China on renewal of the “Mongolia and
China Border Railway Agreement”
Memorandum of Understanding
between Ministry of Mining of Mongolia and National Development and Innovation
Committee of People’s Republic of China on cooperation in intensifying coal
deep processing
Memorandum of
Understanding between Ministry of Economic Development of Mongolia and National
Development and Innovation Committee of People’s Republic of China on the
establishment of Mongolian-Chinese Council of Mineral, Energy and
Infrastructure.
Medium Term
Program to develop trade and economic cooperation between Mongolia and China
Inter-Governmental
Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation
Exchange letter
to build the Development Center for Disabled Children in Ulaanbaatar by the
Grant Aid of the People’s Republic of China
Memorandum of
Understanding between Ministry of Economic Development of Mongolia and Ministry
of Trade of People’s Republic of China on the establishment of
Mongolian-Chinese Economic Free Zone.
Special Loan
Agreement on “E-Health” between Ministry of Economic Development and EXIM Bank
of China.
Special Loan
Agreement on “New Century Education” between Ministry of Economic Development
and EXIM Bank of China.
Special Loan
Agreement on “Procurement of Heavy Tractor” between Ministry of Economic
Development and EXIM Bank of China.
Agreement on
“Mongolia-China Border Port Management Cooperation Commission” between National
Council of Border Port of Mongolia and General Customs Office of People’s
Republic of China on
Memorandum of
Understanding between Ministry of Education and Science of Mongolia and Ministry
of Science and Technology of People’s Republic of China on the building state
laboratory
Agreement
between Ministry of Education and Science of Mongolia and Ministry of Science
and Technology of People’s Republic of China scientist exchange program
Cultural
Exchange Protocol between Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Mongolia
and Ministry of Culture of People’s Republic of China.
Swap Agreement
of MNT and Yuan between Mongolbank and People’s Bank of China.
Memorandum of
Understanding between Mongolbank and Bank Monitoring Committee of People’s
Republic of China.
Memorandum of
Understanding on cooperation between Oil Authority of Mongolia and National
Corporation of Oil of People’s Republic of China.
162 million US$
commercial loan agreement between Development Bank of Mongolia and Development
Bank of People’s Republic of China.
Memorandum of
Understanding between Ministry of Economic Development of Mongolia and National
Development and Innovation Committee of People’s Republic of China on the establishment
of Mongolian-Chinese Council of Mineral, Energy and Infrastructure.
Minister Ts.Oyungerel: Bat’s defamation charge is a threat
to democracy and free expression
By B.
Khash-Erdene and Lisa Gardner
August 24 (UB
Post) Minister of Culture Ts.Oyungerel has issued a scathing assessment of the
recent libel case which saw her brother, Ts. Bat, imprisoned for some three
months for criticizing Transport Minister A.Gansukh on Twitter.
In an exclusive
interview with the UB Post, the Culture Minister blasted Minister Gansukh for
what she sees as a significant threat to Mongolian democratic
values. ”[This case] gives a very bad message about Mongolia … We have
democracy, we have human rights, that all countries are struggling for. But if
we lose it from within, what will we turn into? It is very bad news for
Mongolian citizens, for Mongolia’s future, for Mongolian democracy.”
The minister
highlighted a significant deficit in legal protection for those who come
forward. “I think that this [case] shows that Mongolia doesn’t have any
protection for whistleblowers,” she said. “It’s because of the deficits in the
protections of our citizens, this is our misjudgment… My brother is a
professional engineer who had a twenty-year long career in Mongolian aviation.
That’s why he knows what’s happening in Mongolian aviation, and if he doesn’t
like something, he will express it.”
Minister
Oyungerel believes the case was politically motivated. “If I list all the
punishments that (Bat) received over the course of the past two years, we can
say that it was political,” she says. “Imprisonment is just a culmination of
what is happening between the whistleblower and the Minister.”
Both the
Culture and Transport ministers have come into conflict in the past as a result
of her longstanding opposition to the privatization of MIAT, a policy then led
by the Transport Minister. “When the Minister of Transport rallied strongly to
privatize MIAT a few years ago, I was his main opposition in the Parliament,”
said Minister Oyungerel.
The minister
expressed dismay that her brother received a harsher-than-expected sentence. “I
was so shocked to hear that it was imprisonment,” she said. “I didn’t attend
the court hearing, but I did attend the reading of the court verdict. So when
the judge read the verdict, she said that the State Prosecutor wanted to issue
a fine… But the judge said, ‘but because Bat is unemployed, I order
imprisonment.’ The lower your social status, the harsher the punishment – that
was the logic in that verdict.”
The minister
described the case as “unequal”, with Minister Gansukh using his government
position as a means of leverage.
“I’m also
shocked that the minister filed his complaint on his ministry’s letterhead –
with the stamp of the Ministry – so that gives him an unequal power against a
citizen,” Oyungerel said, “a citizen who doesn’t have a job, or doesn’t have
other status, and doesn’t have government protection. So I think there’s an
unequal fight going on, with power being used against citizens’ freedom, and I,
of course, stand with citizens’ rights.”
Ts.Bat had been
on medical leave when he was fired for speaking out against Gansukh, and his
health is frail, according to his sister. “[Bat] is worried about his health,
as he has a very strict dietary regime. That regime is now gone because of the
prison regime… His condition will quickly deteriorate… His attorney asked if he
could be placed in the prison hospital. Today (on Wednesday) I heard that he
was moved there.”
Support has
emerged online for Bat’s release, with small protests from the local Twitter
community taking place in Chinggis Khan Square earlier in the week, and the
hashtag “#FreeBat” receiving increased mentions online.
“Since when is
social network deemed as press media. Which law mentions this? #FreeBat,” said
Twitter user @iTulga.
“If a
minister’s sibling Bat engineer is arrested, some nobody like us will just go
hoop #FreeBAT,” said another, @BaagiiJr
Local free
expression advocates also expressed their dismay at the ruling. Khashkhuu
Naranjargal, executive director of Globe International, described the case as
“a brutal action… completely against freedom of expression standards and
democratic values.”
Transport
Minister Gansukh has been publicly tight-lipped about the case since it first
began last October. His office could not be reached for comment in relation to
the ruling.
Minister
Oyungerel also described Mongolia’s criminal defamation law as a question of
Mongolian democracy. “Since 2000, I have been advocating to decriminalize
defamation. But it still hasn’t happened that way. Our government actually
submitted a draft law – a law on the criminal code – that would decriminalize
defamation and libel. But the new law has not been passed yet,” she said.
“Minister
Gansukh actually signed in support of the new draft as a Cabinet Member. So his
philosophy is very different from his signatory, supposedly in support of
decriminalizing defamation.”
Minister
Oyungerel said that she will continue to speak out about the case and on
freedom of speech, “On human rights, and on freedom of speech, I have always
been outspoken – without the borders of party. I have defended any media, any
journalist, without even asking who they are. For me, the right of freedom of
speech is a lifetime goal.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Mongolia
August 24 (UB
Post) Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a two-day state visit with his
wife Peng Liyuan at
the invitation of Mongolia Prsident Ts.Elbegdorj.
They arrived at
around 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. Unofficial sources report that Xi Jinping and
representatives accompanying him are staying in Best Western Premier Tuushin
Hotel.
Official
negotiations between Mongolian President Ts.Elbegdorj and Chinese President Xi
Jinping at a Cabinet of the State House was held on Thursday.
The presidents
attended a signing ceremony at the Ceremonial Hall of the State House and press
conference was held.
Chinese
President Xi Jinping will meet with Mongolian Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag at
the State House today, as well as the Speaker of Parliament Z.Enkbold.
He will also
attend the opening ceremony of the photographic exhibition “Review of Chinese
Mongolian Trade and Economic Relations” at Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel
watch “Besreg Naadam” mini-festival with his wife Peng Liyuan at Chingisiin
Khuree Tourist Camp leave at 5:30 p.m.
Chairman of the Parliament and Mayor of UB meet with
Japanese representatives
August 24 (UB
Post) On Wednesday, Chairman of the Parliament Z.Enkhbold called on delegates
led by the Chairman of the Japanese-Mongolian Friendship Group of the Japanese
Liberal Democratic Party, Motoo Hayashi.
Z.Enkhbold
expressed his gratitude for the visit to Mongolia by the three heads of the
Japanese-Mongolian Friendship Group. The Chairman of the Parliament underlined
that developing bilateral friendly relations with Japan is one of the major
goals of Mongolian foreign policy and emphasized that Mongolia places high
priority on developing strategic partnership relations with Japan. Z.Enkhbold
stated his satisfaction with the economic partnership agreement (EPA) agreed to
be established during the Mongolian President’s visit to Japan in July. This
agreement is believed to take the nations to a new level of strategic
partnership.
Motoo Hayashi
replied that he is also satisfied that bilateral relations and cooperation,
especially strategic relations and economic partnership, are developing well
and said that the Japanese side will be pleased to contribute to the Mongolian
private sector. He added that the visit by the delegates marked the 40th
anniversary of Japanese-Mongolian cultural relations and noted participation in
the opening of the joint exhibition of Japanese-Mongolian artists, “Sky, Sun,
and Partnership”.
The meeting was
attended by the following officials: representatives of the Mongolian
Friendship Group of Japanese Parliament; Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Mongolia Takenori Shimizu; MP, Chairman of the
Mongolian-Japanese Parliamentary Group, and DP Leader D.Erdenebat; MP and
Deputy Chairman of the DP S.Odontuya; MPs O.Baasankhuu and Su.Batbold;
Mongolian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan; Secretariat of
the Parliament B.Boldbaatar and others.
The Office of
Media and Public Relations of Parliament reports that there are three
Japanese-led friendship groups, including the Mongolian Friendship Group at the
Privy of the Japanese Parliament, the Friendship Group in the House of
Representatives, and group for support of Japanese-Mongolian relations of the
Liberal Democratic Party.
Governor of
Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul met with delegates led by Japanese Parliamentary Member
of the Representative House Issei Koga and shared views on UB’s development.
The Governor
said, “I appreciate meeting with you and I want to first express my gratitude
to the Japanese people, Parliament and MPs for their assistance and support at
difficult times. We created the development plan of UB through 2020 and ideas
through 2030 thanks to the Japanese Government, and the plan was approved by
the Parliament. We need your assistance and support in implementing the
long-term plan.”
Koga Issei
replied, “We can see that UB’s development and upgrades are growing quickly.
It’s important to start good implementation of the general plan, so we will
support you.”
A shareholder
of Suruga Corporation, Jinkyou Hong, attended the meeting and reported to the
Governor that the corporation has operating in UB for 12 years and has over 300
Mongolian employees.
The Governor
said, “Thank you to Suruga Corporation for providing citizens with quality
apartments. I hope that your corporation will contribute to investments in UB
from the Japanese private sector. We will support you in legal frameworks.”
Closing the
meeting, E.Bat-Uul asked for the Japanese government’s support on the issue of
a UB metro.
Chairman of the Parliament and Mayor of UB meet with
Japanese representatives
August 24 (UB
Post) On Wednesday, Chairman of the Parliament Z.Enkhbold called on delegates
led by the Chairman of the Japanese-Mongolian Friendship Group of the Japanese
Liberal Democratic Party, Motoo Hayashi.
Z.Enkhbold
expressed his gratitude for the visit to Mongolia by the three heads of the
Japanese-Mongolian Friendship Group. The Chairman of the Parliament underlined
that developing bilateral friendly relations with Japan is one of the major
goals of Mongolian foreign policy and emphasized that Mongolia places high
priority on developing strategic partnership relations with Japan. Z.Enkhbold
stated his satisfaction with the economic partnership agreement (EPA) agreed to
be established during the Mongolian President’s visit to Japan in July. This
agreement is believed to take the nations to a new level of strategic
partnership.
Motoo Hayashi
replied that he is also satisfied that bilateral relations and cooperation,
especially strategic relations and economic partnership, are developing well
and said that the Japanese side will be pleased to contribute to the Mongolian
private sector. He added that the visit by the delegates marked the 40th
anniversary of Japanese-Mongolian cultural relations and noted participation in
the opening of the joint exhibition of Japanese-Mongolian artists, “Sky, Sun,
and Partnership”.
The meeting was
attended by the following officials: representatives of the Mongolian
Friendship Group of Japanese Parliament; Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Mongolia Takenori Shimizu; MP, Chairman of the
Mongolian-Japanese Parliamentary Group, and DP Leader D.Erdenebat; MP and
Deputy Chairman of the DP S.Odontuya; MPs O.Baasankhuu and Su.Batbold;
Mongolian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan; Secretariat of
the Parliament B.Boldbaatar and others.
The Office of
Media and Public Relations of Parliament reports that there are three
Japanese-led friendship groups, including the Mongolian Friendship Group at the
Privy of the Japanese Parliament, the Friendship Group in the House of
Representatives, and group for support of Japanese-Mongolian relations of the
Liberal Democratic Party.
Governor of
Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul met with delegates led by Japanese Parliamentary Member
of the Representative House Issei Koga and shared views on UB’s development.
The Governor
said, “I appreciate meeting with you and I want to first express my gratitude
to the Japanese people, Parliament and MPs for their assistance and support at
difficult times. We created the development plan of UB through 2020 and ideas
through 2030 thanks to the Japanese Government, and the plan was approved by
the Parliament. We need your assistance and support in implementing the
long-term plan.”
Koga Issei
replied, “We can see that UB’s development and upgrades are growing quickly.
It’s important to start good implementation of the general plan, so we will
support you.”
A shareholder
of Suruga Corporation, Jinkyou Hong, attended the meeting and reported to the
Governor that the corporation has operating in UB for 12 years and has over 300
Mongolian employees.
The Governor
said, “Thank you to Suruga Corporation for providing citizens with quality
apartments. I hope that your corporation will contribute to investments in UB
from the Japanese private sector. We will support you in legal frameworks.”
Closing the
meeting, E.Bat-Uul asked for the Japanese government’s support on the issue of
a UB metro.
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