Mongolian, Indonesian presidents seek to boost ties

Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed Thursday to strengthen cooperation in their economies, trade and investment. During their meeting here, Elbegdorj said Mongolia and Indonesia had been cooperating with each other in regional and international arenas and actively participating in political and economic affairs in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. He said Yudhoyono's visit would push bilateral relations and cooperation to a higher level. Elbegdorj expressed his country's willingness to cooperate with Indonesia in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, mining and international peacekeeping operations. Yudhoyono expressed Indonesia's interest in strengthening cooperation in mining and energy with Mongolia. Yudhoyono arrived in Mongolia on Wednesday for a three-day visit. He will leave for Vladivostok, Russia, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal economic leaders' meeting on Friday.