AKIPRESS.COM - President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid a state visit to Mongolia on February 7-8. The parties signed the Joint Declaration regarding the strategic partnership between Mongolia and Germany during the visit.

The sides emphasised major achievements resulting from their cooperation in the fields of politics, security, democratic governance, defence, economics, trade, environment, culture, education, science, development cooperation and civil society as well as in the humanitarian sector, in line with the 2030 Agenda.

The parties have decided to upgrade their cooperation to the level of a strategic partnership based on the shared values of democracy, human rights, freedom and the rule of law as well as market economy principles.

The two countries will strengthen their cooperation in the areas of politics and security, including through the exchange of high-level visits, continue promoting joint contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, support deepening collaboration between the two sides' parliaments, including continued support by Germany for Mongolia's efforts to strengthen judicial and legal reform.

They will also expand economic, trade and investment collaboration, including the improvement of sustainable business, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the conditions for foreign investment, and encourage cooperation in the development of tourism, agriculture and forestry.

The parties agreed to continue their efforts to support scholarship programmes for Mongolian students to obtain higher education and vocational training in Germany, including Mongolia's Mission-2100 initiative, as well as the introduction of German best practices in vocational education and training. They agreed to continue their promotion of Mongolian studies in Germany and vice versa and to boost cooperation in science and research.

Germany and Mongolia will intensify cooperation in research in archaeology as well as the mining sector, the latter with regards to the implementation of the agreement on cooperation in natural resources, industry and technology.

The sides will cooperate on adapting to and mitigating the climate crisis as well as its risks for human security and peace and on protecting the biodiversity and sustainable management of protected areas. They will also strengthen their cooperation on preserving water resources and combating deforestation and desertification, while supporting the national Billion Trees movement.