Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Mrs. N.Oyundari participated in the High-Level Meeting on the Follow-up to the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries

This Meeting was organized by the Government of Zambia together with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developing Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). It was the first high-level gathering since the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held in November 2014 which adopted the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs (VPoA). The 10-year VPoA is an ambitious action-plan bringing together 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), including Mongolia, and their development partners in joint efforts towards sustainable and inclusive economic development.

In her statement at the Meeting, Mrs. N.Oyundari highlighted the potential of regional trade cooperation for LLDCs and emphasized the need for these countries to improve their international competitiveness.

Furthermore, she pointed out that the International Think Tank for LLDCs, headquartered in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, could significantly contribute to the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action by undertaking research and analysis of relevant issues and by providing policy advice to LLDC governments. She encouraged LLDCs which have not yet done so to ratify the Multilateral Agreement for the establishment of an international think tank for LLDCs.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs also held bilateral meetings with representatives from other LLDCs, including Zambia, Malawi and Mali, discussing, among others, the accession of these countries to the Multilateral Agreement for the establishment of an international think tank for LLDCs.