AKIPRESS.COM - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa are expected to reach a broad agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology when they meet later this month in Ulaanbaatar, Nikkei Asia reports.

The agreement would pave the way for Japanese defense exports to Mongolia. The countries plan to sign the deal as early as this fall, with specific exports to be decided through consultation.

Japan plans shipments to Mongolia later this fiscal year through its Official Security Assistance framework, which provides defense equipment for free to like-minded partners.

At a November 2022 summit, Kishida and Khurelsukh said they would promote defense-related transfers in order to upgrade the political and security cooperation between their countries. They outlined a basic action plan through 2031, including the creation of a legal framework for such transfers.

At the upcoming summit, the leaders also are expected to discuss their response to the war in Ukraine as well as North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

Mongolia relies heavily on its economic ties with neighboring China and Russia, and has been pursuing partnerships with other leading countries. Ulaanbaatar looks to deepen defense ties with Japan in light of military buildups by Beijing and Moscow.