Mongolia hopes to move its comprehensive partnership with Japan to a new level, said Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj on Monday.

"Loans and assistance from the Japanese government and people have played an important role in strengthening the democracy and reform of Mongolia," said the president during a meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. He thanked representatives from both countries for their efforts on an economic partnership agreement, which, if signed, will be the first of its kind that Mongolia has ever had with a foreign country.