President U.Khurelsukh received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who paid an official visit to Mongolia, with the two sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the countries’ “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.”
President U.Khurelsukh said the visit by Japan’s Foreign Minister reflects the high level to which bilateral relations have developed, stressing that Japan, as one of Mongolia’s key “third neighbors” and a country sharing common democratic values, remains an important priority of Mongolia’s foreign policy. The president highlighted the state visit to Mongolia by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in 2025, including their attendance as guests of honor at the opening of the National Naadam Festival, describing the historic visit as an important milestone in bilateral relations. He asked Foreign Minister Motegi to convey his warm greetings to Their Majesties.
President U.Khurelsukh also expressed Mongolia’s appreciation to successive Japanese governments and the Japanese people for their longstanding contribution to Mongolia’s transition to a market economy, as well as to the country’s democratic development, protection of human rights and freedoms, and social and economic stability. The two sides welcomed the agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport through a concessional loan from the Government of Japan, describing the airport as a major symbol of bilateral cooperation. Foreign Minister Motegi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to implementing the 2022-2031 Action Plan under the Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and to further expanding and deepening cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi also paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the Parliament S.Byambatsogt who emphasized that deepening friendly relations and cooperation with Japan, a third neighbor with shared democratic values, is one of Mongolia’s foreign-policy priorities. The two sides noted the important role played by relations between the Mongolian and Japanese parliaments in strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation. They agreed to regularize reciprocal parliamentary visits and further strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ parliamentary friendship groups.
S.Byambatsogt welcomed Japan’s work toward expanding Chinggis Khaan International Airport and increasing its capacity through an official development assistance yen loan. Recalling his tenure as Minister of Road and Transport, S.Byambatsogt said Mongolia’s air transport liberalization policy had contributed to a three- to fourfold increase in passenger traffic and direct flight frequencies in 2023, while airfares declined by about threefold. Domestic flights that had previously been suspended were also restored, with services now reaching eight provinces, primarily benefiting elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities.
He noted that the number of passengers using Chinggis Khaan International Airport had increased from about 600,000 in 2022 to roughly four times that level in 2025, placing increasing pressure on the airport’s capacity. S.Byambatsogt further proposed transferring domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport, saying the move could provide faster and more affordable access for some 60,000 Mongolian citizens, particularly elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities. The speaker also emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties as a key pillar of the Mongolia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership.
He noted that under the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, more than 5,700 categories of Mongolian goods have access to the Japanese market duty-free. However, he said Mongolia’s exports to Japan have declined from their 2015 level due to various challenges, underscoring the need for greater joint efforts to create a more balanced trade relationship. S.Byambatsogt also pointed to growing people-to-people ties, noting that around 21,000 Mongolian citizens are currently studying and working in Japan. He called on Japan to consider visa-free entry for Mongolian citizens making short-term visits to the country.
Foreign Minister Motegi said Japan seeks to further intensify trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the Special Strategic Partnership. He also confirmed that the Japanese government had reached an agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport using concessional financing under Japan’s official development assistance program.
The Japanese Foreign Minister also said he would give particular attention to the speaker’s proposals concerning the transfer of domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport and the possibility of visa-free travel for Mongolian citizens visiting Japan for short periods. The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation, including learning from the respective experiences of the two governments and parliaments and incorporating relevant practices into legislative work, ensuring that the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement reach businesses and citizens more directly, and issues related to the double taxation agreement.
