Russia, Mongolia to sign visa-free travel agreement

Russia and Mongolia are planning to sign an agreement on visa-free travel as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit scheduled for September 3, presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Tuesday.
“In total, 13 documents have been prepared for signing during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Mongolia,” Ushakov said.
Visa-free travel formalities existed earlier. But in 1994 it was suspended by Mongolia. “Now visa-free travel will be resumed for all citizens,” Ushakov said. “This will give an additional impetus to the development of mutually advantageous business, cultural and tourist relations,” he added.
On Monday, September 1, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to sign the agreement on the conditions for mutual trips of Russian and Mongolian citizens.
Earlier, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said the signing of the agreement on visa-free travel was a breakthrough for Russian-Mongolian relations.
“Of course, the agreement will create new additional conditions for business, cultural, humanitarian, youth and sports exchanges. It will facilitate the expansion of inter-regional border cooperation,” Matviyenko said.
The agreement “will remove the barriers on the way to strengthening cooperation”, she said.
Chairman of the Mongolian parliament Zandakhuugiin Enkhbold told ITAR-TASS, “We’re sure that visa-free travel will attract new investors and tourists."