Mongolia Seeks Tie-Ups With Japan In Nuclear Energy, Rare Earths -Kyodo

Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaataryn Batbold has called for boosting economic cooperation with Japan in the areas of nuclear energy and development of natural resources such as rare earth minerals, Kyodo News reported Tuesday.

In a recent interview with Kyodo News, Batbold said he plans to visit Japan in March and expressed eagerness to forge cooperation with Japan as Mongolia , which also has rich uranium reserves, plans to build its first nuclear power plant.

"Japan possesses high technology in the peaceful use of nuclear power and has lessons from Fukushima," he said, referring to Japan's recovery from a deadly accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunami in March last year.

The two governments are arranging a trip by Batbold to Japan from March 10 to 15, including a meeting with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, as part of events to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Batbold expressed willingness to start negotiations with Japan on an economic partnership agreement, which is broader than a free trade agreement as it covers elimination of tariffs plus liberalization of investment, protection of intellectual property rights and free movement of labor.

Japan and Mongolia had planned to enter EPA talks in spring last year, but the plan was postponed due to the disaster in the Fukushima plant and political impasse that led to the resignation of Noda's predecessor, Naoto Kan.

"I would like to make an EPA one of key agenda items" in a meeting with Noda, Batbold said.

"I expect bilateral investment to double in three to four years after an EPA takes effect," he said.

If realized, it would be the first EPA Mongolia has concluded with another country. Mongolia also has no FTA with another country.

" Mongolia is rich in resources and Japan has high technology. There are many areas of cooperation for mutual benefit," the prime minister said.

"We would like to see an introduction of cutting-edge technology from Japan ," he said, urging Japanese companies to invest in Mongolia in areas such as manufacturing and infrastructure building.