Japan offers yen loans to Mongolia

ULAN BATOR, April 1 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) Prime Minister Shinzo Abetold his Mongolian counterpart, Norov Altankhuyag, on Saturday that Japan will offer Mongolia yen loans totaling 4.2 billion yen to renovate thermal power plants in that country.

Japan's offer is incorporated in the agreed-on "Erch Initiative," a set of Japanese economic cooperation policies Abe proposed during the talks. "Erch" means vitality in Mongolian.

During the talks, the two leaders also agreed to cooperate on natural resource development projects in Mongolia, including theTavan Tolgoi coalfield.

Abe and Altankhuyag also agreed that the two countries will have policy dialogues with the United States, with a cautious eye on China's rising economic and military presence. They confirmed the two countries would accelerate negotiations for a bilateral economic partnership agreement.

Abe said during the talks that Japan expects Japanese companies to participate in the development of the Tavan Tolgoi coalfield, one of the world's largest, in southern Mongolia. In response,Altankhuyag said Mongolia wants to provide a stable supply of coal to Japan for the long term.

Referring to North Korea's nuclear and missile development, Abe said, "We need to urge [North Korea] not to take provocative actions."

He requested Mongolia's cooperation in resolving the issue of North Korean abductions of Japanese, as Ulan Bator has diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. Altankhuyag said his country supports Japan's position.

At a joint press conference, Abe said he explained to Altankhuyag Japan's stance in the bilateral relationship with China that has been strained over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

"Although there are specific issues to deal with, China should act in a controlled manner to avoid adversely impacting overall Japan-China relations," Abe said.

Abe separately met with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorjafter the press conference.

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