For the first time in history, a French leader has visited Mongolia. 800 years in the making after the various partnership attempts between the Mongol Empire and France throughout the 13th century, which could never be realized despite their efforts [Video source: Mongol presidency]

For the first time in history, a French leader has visited Mongolia. 800 years in the making after the various partnership attempts between the Mongol Empire and France throughout the 13th century, which could never be realized despite their efforts [Video source: Mongol presidency]
by u/Okiro_Benihime in europe

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  1. – [RFI: Macron to become first French leader to visit Mongolia](https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20230520-macron-to-become-first-french-leader-to-visit-mongolia)

    – [ABC: Rare earth minerals, Ukraine top agenda on French President Macron’s historic visit to Mongolia](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/rare-earths-ukraine-top-agenda-french-president-macrons-99500352)

    – [Euractiv: Macron banks on uranium from Mongolia, offers help with climate targets](https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/macron-banks-on-uranium-from-mongolia-offers-help-with-climate-targets/)

    – [France 24: Macron makes first French presidential visit to Mongolia](https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230521-president-macron-makes-first-french-presidential-visit-to-mongolia)

    > Macron met with his Mongolian counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Sunday in the capital Ulaanbaatar and pledged cooperation on the extraction and trade of uranium as well as rare minerals used in semiconductors/chips, satellites, cell phones, and other key technologies.

    > The visit was the first by a French head of state to Mongolia, a landlocked democracy twice the size of Texas sandwiched between Russia and China.

    > Mongolia was looking to “diversify its partnerships in order to be more robust and able to deal with its large Russian and Chinese neighbours,” the source added.

    > Paris is seeking to “loosen the constraint exerted on Russia’s neighbours” and open up their choice of options, the French presidency source explained. “We decided to work together to boost our energy sovereignty through the supply of critical metals from your country, which has this resource,” Macron told a news conference alongside Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, who called France its “third neighbour”, Reuters reported.

    > Possibly more important than maintaining a democratic foothold between Russia and China, is the presence of uranium in Mongolia.

    > Sebastien Suren, France’s ambassador to Mongolia, in an interview with The Diplomat, said Mongolia ranked in the world’s top countries with uranium deposits. France, which belongs to the world’s leading nuclear energy producers, was ready to go further and support Mongolia.

    > When excavation begins, the uranium will be exported to one of the few facilities in the world that can manufacture fuel out of the mineral Suren said, adding that French companies were the only ones in the world able to handle the cycle of nuclear fuel, including managing waste and spent fuel.

    > Macron added that a partnership with nuclear group Orano, which is developing a uranium mine in Mongolia, is key.

    > To accelerate its ecological re-industrialisation centred around nuclear energy, the French government is also banking on a joint venture between French nuclear power company Areva and the Mongolian company Mon-Atom, holding a 66% stake. The joint venture has obtained three mining licenses to exploit uranium deposits.

    > Regarding environmental targets, Macron expressed a keen interest in helping Mongolia – which relies on coal for up to 90% of its energy production – transition from its carbon-intensive industries towards greener and more sustainable alternatives. France has internationally recognised expertise in the construction of nuclear power plants.

    > Mongolia’s grasslands, mountains and deserts hold vast deposits of abundant mineral resources such as coal, copper, gold, zinc, rare earth elements and multiple other ores vital to the modern economy.

    > Macron also visited the Genghis Khan Museum, dedicated to the great Mongol conqueror of the 13th century, which will lend a part of its collection to the History Museum of Nantes, France, for an exhibition scheduled in October.

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