1. The Republic of Korea and Mongolia held the third meeting of the Joint Committee in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on March 26, 2018, the 28^th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations.

※ The first and second meetings of the Joint Committee were held in 2015 and 2016, respectively, with the latest marking the third of its kind.

° In particular, during his visit to the ROK in January, 2018, Prime Minister Khurelsukh of Mongolia requested that a meeting of the Joint Committee, which comprehensively reviews the progress in bilateral economic cooperation, be held as soon as possible. In a positive response to the request, the ROK government held the meeting.

2. In the meeting, the ROK and Mongolian head delegates, -- Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism Tserenbat, respectively, -- taking note of the progress in the bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, discussed specific ways to further step up substantive cooperation in various sectors, including economy, development and people-to-people exchanges as well as on regional and global stages.

° The two sides, bringing attention to both the ROK and Mongolian governments’ endeavors to implement people-focused policies, mainly discussed ways to pursue bilateral economic cooperation in line with those policies.

- The ROK side asked the Mongolian government to allow more than the current one airliner to operate Incheon-Ulaanbaatar flights in a bid to improve convenience of peoples of the two countries. The Mongolian delegation responded by saying that the Mongolian government is working to amend the relevant domestic law.

- The Mongolian side asked that the ROK government issue a larger number of multiple visas to the country and invite more Mongolian students to its scholarship programs. The ROK side responded that consular officers and immigration authorities of the two countries will consult closely to seek a solution to visa and immigration-related issues; and with Korean universities expected to fail to fill their admission quotas in the near future, asked that more Mongolian students come to the ROK to study.

° The two sides, both recognizing the gravity of the air pollution issue, agreed to respond jointly to it.

- The Mongolian side voiced hope to channel $500 mil. under the agreement on the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), concluded in January 2018, into tackling the air pollution issue; and asked the ROK government to accelerate procedures in order for the project to begin as soon as possible.

- The ROK side mentioned the country’s close attention to the seriousness of the fine dust issue; and stated that, particularly amid the controversy in the ROK over the influx of fine dust from Mongolia, the ROK government will positively consider rendering assistance to Mongolia with its efforts to address the air pollution issue.

3. During his visit to Mongolia, Vice Minister Cho paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Khurelsukh of the country, during which the Vice Minister affirmed that the ROK and Mongolia are partners with such shared universal values as democracy and human rights, and in implementing “people-focused” economic policies; and spoke of the ROK’s plan to further boost economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with Mongolia as such partners.

° Prime Minister Khurelsukh, calling the two countries in “brotherhood,” as can be seen from a growing number of people in Mongolia speaking Korean and of marriages between Koreans and Mongolians, voiced hope for a further increase in people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation.

* unofficial translation