The regular press conference of the Foreign Minister’s “Information Hour” was held on January 26, where D. Gankhuyag, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ASEM Mongolia Office, made a briefing on the progress of ASEM Summit preparations.
At the start of his briefing, Mr. Gankhuyag spoke briefly about ASEM. The Asia-Europe Meeting was founded in 1996 with 26 member countries and today it has grown into a major international organization uniting in its ranks 30 European and 21 Asian countries, ASEAN and the European Union. ASEM is an informal mechanism of dialogue on common political, economic, social and cultural pressing issues, based on the equitable relations of the Asian-European countries.
Mongolia joined ASEM during its 7th Summit in 2008 and after actively participating in its activities, Mongolia received the right to host its 11th Summit in Ulaanbaatar in 2016. By organizing this Summit, Mongolia will not only be able to promote the country in a positive vein and ensure a growth in its international prestige, but will also get much better opportunity to attract foreign investment and assistance, underlined D. Gankhuyag in his briefing.
The 11th ASEM Summit scheduled in Ulaanbaatar will be held on July 15-16 this year. Nine side events are planned prior to the Summit as well, with the first side event being at the end of April.
The 11th Summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of ASEM and our country has the additional responsibility to celebrate the jubilee. The 20th anniversary celebrations will be held on the central Chinggis Square and a set of art and cultural functions are being planned. The Summit will conclude with Ulaanbaatar Declaration, summary of the 20 years of work by ASEM and the vision for the next 20 years.
A National Council has been set up, with the responsibility of organizing the ASEM Summit and under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Mongolia. The Council has six working groups: Security, Protocol and Immigration; Venue and Accommodation; Summit Events and Chancery; Transportation, Communication and Airport; Media and Public Relations, and Catering, Entertainment and Safety. The working groups are engaged in ensuring their respective line of preparation for the Summit and report back on the progress to the National Council.
Work is currently underway to set up a Press Center within the premises of the MONTSAME National News Agency, with the objective of regularly providing news and information to the public about the ASEM Summit. Soft loans have been provided to 47 hotels that have been identified and selected to host the guests and delegates to the ASEM Summit, which would give these hotels the possibility to improve on their services and furnishing.
At the end of the briefing, Mr. Gankhuyag answered journalists’ questions. There were more questions related to financing, investment and organization of the ASEM Summit. 20 billion MNT has been earmarked for the ASEM Summit, to be used for the registration of guests and delegates, and addressing issues related to security, infrastructure and transportation etc. The ASEM Villa and vehicles that will be used during the Summit are being managed through private sector investment, and the Government on its part is providing support in terms of tax relief and permissions.
The regular press conference of the Foreign Minister’s “Information Hour” was held on January 26, where D. Gankhuyag, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ASEM Mongolia Office, made a briefing on the progress of ASEM Summit preparations.
At the start of his briefing, Mr. Gankhuyag spoke briefly about ASEM. The Asia-Europe Meeting was founded in 1996 with 26 member countries and today it has grown into a major international organization uniting in its ranks 30 European and 21 Asian countries, ASEAN and the European Union. ASEM is an informal mechanism of dialogue on common political, economic, social and cultural pressing issues, based on the equitable relations of the Asian-European countries.
Mongolia joined ASEM during its 7th Summit in 2008 and after actively participating in its activities, Mongolia received the right to host its 11th Summit in Ulaanbaatar in 2016. By organizing this Summit, Mongolia will not only be able to promote the country in a positive vein and ensure a growth in its international prestige, but will also get much better opportunity to attract foreign investment and assistance, underlined D. Gankhuyag in his briefing.
The 11th ASEM Summit scheduled in Ulaanbaatar will be held on July 15-16 this year. Nine side events are planned prior to the Summit as well, with the first side event being at the end of April.
The 11th Summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of ASEM and our country has the additional responsibility to celebrate the jubilee. The 20th anniversary celebrations will be held on the central Chinggis Square and a set of art and cultural functions are being planned. The Summit will conclude with Ulaanbaatar Declaration, summary of the 20 years of work by ASEM and the vision for the next 20 years.
A National Council has been set up, with the responsibility of organizing the ASEM Summit and under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Mongolia. The Council has six working groups: Security, Protocol and Immigration; Venue and Accommodation; Summit Events and Chancery; Transportation, Communication and Airport; Media and Public Relations, and Catering, Entertainment and Safety. The working groups are engaged in ensuring their respective line of preparation for the Summit and report back on the progress to the National Council.
Work is currently underway to set up a Press Center within the premises of the MONTSAME National News Agency, with the objective of regularly providing news and information to the public about the ASEM Summit. Soft loans have been provided to 47 hotels that have been identified and selected to host the guests and delegates to the ASEM Summit, which would give these hotels the possibility to improve on their services and furnishing.
At the end of the briefing, Mr. Gankhuyag answered journalists’ questions. There were more questions related to financing, investment and organization of the ASEM Summit. 20 billion MNT has been earmarked for the ASEM Summit, to be used for the registration of guests and delegates, and addressing issues related to security, infrastructure and transportation etc. The ASEM Villa and vehicles that will be used during the Summit are being managed through private sector investment, and the Government on its part is providing support in terms of tax relief and permissions.