Putin invites Mongolian president to BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited his Mongolian counterpart, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, to attend the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan next month. The offer was extended at a meeting of the two leaders in the Mongolian capital.

Putin landed in Mongolia late on Monday for his first visit to the country in five years. On Tuesday morning, Khurelsukh greeted the Russian leader outside the State Palace on Ulaanbaatar’s main square. The ceremony included a guard of honor and a detachment of horsemen dressed as medieval Mongolian cavalry. The anthems of the two nations were performed, with Putin also accepting a bouquet of red roses from a small girl.

“I would like to invite you to Russia, to Kazan, where the BRICS summit will be held this year. This will be the first event of this level after the expansion of this organization. I hope you will take part in the BRICS+ format. We are waiting for you,” Putin told Khurelsukh as their talks began at the State Palace.

The Mongolian president said that he accepts the invitation to visit the high-profile event in the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan Republic.

This year’s BRICS summit will take place in Kazan from October 22 to 24. Russia is hosting the event due to being the current chairman of the group. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE officially became members of BRICS at the start of 2024, joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Putin emphasized that the relations between Russia and Mongolia “are developing in all areas.”

“Besides the economy and political sphere – where we cooperate quite actively – I would also note the effective work in humanitarian areas, in particular in the field of education,” he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic had complicated exchanges between the two countries, but “we were eventually able to reach a trajectory of growth in trade relations and trade turnover,” the Russian leader added.

Khurelsukh stressed that the development of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Russia remains a “priority direction” of Mongolia’s foreign policy. He expressed satisfaction that relations between the two countries have grown in recent years.

Ulaanbaatar believes Putin’s visit to be of “great importance” and expects it to pave the way to “further develop our comprehensive trade and economic cooperation that will bring wellbeing and prosperity to our peoples,” the Mongolian leader said.

Besides talks with top Mongolian officials, Putin is scheduled to take part in a commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, the 1939 border conflict in which the Soviet and Mongolian armies jointly fought and defeated Japanese imperial forces.