Ulaanbaatar
Foreign Minister attends Silk Road Support Group meeting
Economy
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Foreign Minister D.Tsogtbaatar participating in the 18th meeting of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly attended the 4th Meeting of the Silk Road Support Group today on February 21.
Parliamentarians of 23 member states of the Silk Road Support Group exchanged views on strengthening the group activities and further measures to be taken. Although the OSCE is a security agency, the stakeholders agreed that economic cooperation will boost political dialogue, emphasizing the importance of the group activities.
Foreign Minister D.Tsogtbaatar noted that the Silk Road cooperation should be coordinated with the China’s Belt and Road Initiative and would be proper to invite representatives from China to consult. Further, he pointed out that in order to support cooperation between the countries alongside the Silk Road and intensify trade, the customs, special inspection, controlling regulations, standards and requirements of the countries should be integrated and simplified. Considering the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organization, it is essential to integrate the administrative rules, which will be an exemplary step for the global trade, the Minister mentioned.
At the meeting, Italy’s request to enter the group was discussed and unanimously approved by the stakeholders.
Silk Road Support Group was established by the supporting countries at the plenary session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk in 2017. Mongolia is one of the 17 founders of the group which currently operates with 24 member states. The group is aimed to support economic relations and cooperation of member states, promote coherence by establishing multi-use transportation corridors, facilitating trade and transportation regimes, ensuring the free movement of persons, goods, services and investments.
