Turkish FM in Mongolia seeks to boost trade volume to $250m

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia

Turkey and Mongolia agreed to improve relations during the Turkish foreign minister's official visit to the country.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Mongolian counterpart Lundeg Purevsuren in the capital Ulan Bator on Monday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Our current economic relations and bilateral trade volume actually do not reflect our political relations and friendship, and we think they lag behind our friendship."

Trade volume between the two countries has reached $40 million, according to Turkish foreign ministry website. 

Cavusoglu said Turkey is "determined" to raise the trade volume to $250 million, and in this regard, he wanted Turkish businesspeople to invest more in Mongolia. 

The minister welcomed the direct flights of Turkish Airlines to Ulan Bator but added the number of flights are insufficient and should be increased. 

The Mongolian minister Purevsuren said they see Turkey as their "third neighbor,"  and that has a positive effect on bilateral relations.

The Orkhon inscriptions, which the Turkish minister visited, are the first examples of written Turkish in history, located in Orkhon valley in Mongolia.

Purevsuren added they want to benefit from Turkey's experiences in areas like tourism, construction, textile and leather. 

The ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between diplomacy academies.

Cavusoglu also separately met the Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg. 

According to diplomatic sources, they exchanged views on bilateral relations, as well as on regional and international developments.

Cavusoglu is the first Turkish foreign minister to have visited Mongolia since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries in 1969.