Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar met Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith during his attendance to the 28^th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum which is being held in Australia.

Expressing his condolences in connection with bushfires in Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales, which is causing huge damage and loss of human lives, Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar noted that the Government of Mongolia and its people living in Australia are rendering humanitarian aid. Moreover, the Speaker congratulated Mr. Tony Smith and the Parliament of Australia on organizing the 28^th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum successfully regardless of this concern.

During the meeting, Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith noted the successful development of relations between the two countries and agreed the importance of expanding cooperation in trade and economic sectors.

Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar said that Mongolia had made significant efforts and works to comply with the recommendations of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and to be removed from the “Grey List” in a short time, and expressed his hope that Australia, the third neighbor, would support Mongolia on this matter.

Mentioning that the Mongolian Parliament passed a resolution to ensure the interests of the Mongolian side in the Oyu Tolgoi project, which is being implemented by the Rio Tinto Group, the Speakersaid "We consider that the Oyutolgoi project agreement should be improved. This decision was made due to insufficient benefits to the Mongolian side which is jointly implementing the project on the world-class deposit with significant reserves of copper and gold. We hope the investor side will support the realization of the decision. “

Expressing his gratitude to the Government of Mongolia and its people for rendering the humanitarian aid, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia Tony Smith expressed their readiness to support Mongolia on the works and efforts in connection with the removal from the “Grey List” of FATF.

Senator Dean Smith, who also took part in the meeting, said that he was actively working on formation of an Australian-Mongolian group and cooperating with the Ambassador of Mongolia in Australia B.Chuluunkhuu in this regard. He said that the cooperation between the Parliaments and the Secretariat should be broadened, and the Friendship Group plays an important role to it. Senator Dean Smith, elected from Western Australia which is regarded as the mining region, underlined the possibility to cooperate in mining sector and expressed his readiness to share experiences on not only extraction but also exploration, research and innovation.

Speaker of the Parliament G.Zandanshatar informed that the Parliament has amended the Constitution of Mongolia based on the principle of Consultative Democracy by consulting with citizens, political parties and civil societies.

Mr. Tony Smith then congratulated the Speaker, MP D.Lundeejantsan, D.Togtokhsuren, D.Erdenebat and J.Munkhbat who played an active role in amending the Constitution.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides unanimously stated the importance of intensifying cooperation in the field of mining and agriculture.