A Japanese delegation headed by Kazunori Tanaka, Member of the House of Representatives (lower house) of Japanese Parliament and chairman of the External Relations Division of the Liberal Democratic Party, paid a working visit to Mongolia from April 29 to May 3. The visiting delegation called on the Speaker of Mongolian Parliament, Z.Enkhbold. Emphasizing that Mongolia is an important partner to Japan with traditionally friendly ties, Tanaka expressed his satisfaction with the expansion of bilateral relations and cooperation in all spheres since the establishment of strategic partnership ties. He said it is vital to develop multistage dialogue and to boost inter-parliamentary ties in order to make implementation of the Mongolia-Japan strategic partnership more effective. “The symbol of bilateral relations, the Economic Partnership Agreement, is to come into force soon,” Tanaka noted, and added that he believes  Japan-Mongolia relations and cooperation will expand further. He stressed that he was impressed with the construction of the new international airport in Khushig Valley in Tuv Province, which the Japanese delegation visited last Saturday. Speaker Z.Enkhbold underlined that boosting friendly relations and cooperation with Japan is one of the priorities of Mongolian foreign policy, and added that Mongolia attaches great importance to strategic partnership relations with Japan. Speaker Z.Enkhbold said, “The Economic Partnership Agreement plays a particular role in augmenting the flow of reciprocal investment, services, products, and people-to-people exchanges, and in connecting Mongolia to the regional and global markets, as well as economic integration.” The agreement will help Mongolia to draw Japanese investment, introduce know-how, and to export products to Japan and other markets he added. On May 2, President Ts.Elbegdorj welcomed Kazunori Tanaka, who was joined by Daishiro Yamagiwa and Nagasaka Yasumasa, members of the Japanese House of Representatives. During the meeting, Tanaka thanked the President of Mongolia for taking time to meet the Japanese parliamentary delegation and presented the greetings of Motoo Hayashi, chair of the Japan-Mongolia Friendship Group of the House of Representatives and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. Tanaka said he appreciated the support and assistance that the government and the people of Mongolia rendered to Japan during its most recent earthquake. He noted with satisfaction the progress of bilateral relations between the two countries in various spheres, highlighting the mutual exchange of high-level visits, including the working visits of President Ts.Elbegdorj, Speaker of Parliament Z.Enkhbold, and Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg to Japan, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Mongolia in 2015. He noted that it was the first time for a Prime Minister of Japan to visit Mongolia twice during a term in office, and said it is a manifestation of Japan's great interest in Mongolia. Noting that the regular election for the House of Representatives will be held in July and that Mongolia’s parliamentary elections will take place this June, President Ts.Elbegdorj wished the Members of the House of Representatives success in their future endeavors. Ts.Elbegdorj stressed that Japan and Mongolia's relationship, especially inter-parliamentary ties, have been rapidly intensifying. “We place great importance on the exchanges of high-level visits between the parliaments. Our two countries signed the Economic Partnership Agreement and we are at the stage of implementation. Mongolia and Japan are implementing a number of joint projects, such as the new international airport in Ulaanbaatar and the construction of Bayanzurkh Hospital. We are grateful for these achievements. Through the Economic Partnership Agreement, bilateral economic cooperation will expand,” he added.