Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Mongolia Andrea De Felip and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Mongolia Suresh Babu presented their credentials to President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj last Friday. After the credentials presenting ceremony, the Mongolian President received the ambassadors to discuss and exchange views on cooperation and relations. Beginning his meeting with the Italian ambassador, President Ts.Elbegdorj congratulated Ambassador De Felip for being appointed the first Resident Italian Ambassador to Mongolia and wished him good luck in his work. The President noted that opening an embassy in Ulaanbaatar means that Italy places great importance on its relations with Mongolia, and underlined that Mongolia will also prioritize its relations with Italy. Ts.Elbegdorj noted the President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso’s visit to Mongolia held in April, and said that the meeting was the first high-level meeting to Mongolia paid by an Italian official. He also said that he hopes that the President of Italy will participate in the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit. The Italian Ambassador said that he will make an effort to expand and develop cooperation between Mongolia and Italy. President Ts.Elbegdorj emphasized cultural cooperation between the two countries, and said that Mongolia plans to organize a broad scope of cultural events in 2020 on the occasion of 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Italy. He asked the Italian Embassy to actively cooperate in organizing the events, and noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President will support the activities of the Italian Embassy in Mongolia. At his meeting with the Indian Ambassador to Mongolia, President Ts.Elbegdorj said that he was happy and satisfied that the mutual cooperation and relations between the two countries, based on culture, historic ties, and common values of democracy, are successfully expanding. President Ts.Elbegdorj at the meeting with Ambassador Babu[/caption] The President noted that the number of mutual high level visits by the country’s leaders has increased in recent years, and said that he was happy that defense cooperation between Mongolia and India is strengthening. President Ts.Elbegdorj emphasized that the signing of a one billion USD concessional loan agreement between the two countries governments guarantees a broad scope of cooperation and relations between Mongolia and India. “This shows that the Government of India wants to support Mongolia’s social and economic development, and guarantees friendly relations between our nations,” the Mongolian President noted. Ambassador Babu said that he was also satisfied that relations between the two countries are intensively developing to a high level, and underlined that he will work toward strengthening relations in the future.