Visit to Canada of His Excellency Danzan Lundeejantsan, M.P., Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From December 2 to 7, 2007, His Excellency Danzan Lundeejantsan, M.P., Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia, led a parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Canada, on the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Peter Milliken. The official delegation was composed of Mr. Chilhaajav Avdai, M.P., Chair of Mongolia-Canada Parliament Group; Mr. Yadamsuren Sanjmyatav, M.P.; and Mr. Tuvden Ochirkhuu, M.P. Mr. Namsraijav Luvsanjav, Secretary General of the Chancellery of Parliament, and Ms. Tserendorj Narantungalag, Acting Director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Chancellery of Parliament, also accompanied the delegation. His Excellency Dugerjav Gotov, Ambassador of Mongolia in Canada, as well as other members of the diplomatic corps, also accompanied the official delegation.

In Ottawa, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Senator, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable David Emerson, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade;
• Mr. Deepak Obhrai, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• Mr. John G. Williams, M.P., Chairman of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC);
• Members of the Canada-Mongolia Friendship Group;
• Members of the Canadian Branch of the Inter-Parliamentary Union;
• Representatives of the Institute for Research in Construction; and
• Representatives from Algonquin College.

In Toronto, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Steve Peters, M.P.P., Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario;
• Representatives of mining companies;
• Representatives of the Toronto Stock Exchange; and
• Representatives of York University.

The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with provincial and federal officials. A number of subjects were discussed, including agriculture, trade, the mining industry and education. The Mongolian delegation was especially interested in improving exchange and partnership mechanisms between the two countries in various sectors and with respect to parliamentary democracy. The delegates visited the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Royal Ontario Museum and the CN Tower. Their visit concluded with a trip to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.