Mongolia Brief November 10, 2014
Heads
of State of Mongolia and PR of China Meet in Beijing
November 10
(infomongolia.com) On November 08, 2014, President of Mongolia Tsakhia
ELBEGDORJ left for Beijing to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) Third Senior Officials meeting themed "Shaping the Future through
Asia-Pacific Partnership" and this time President Ts.Elbegdorj is
attending for the first time as a guest participant.
In the scope of
the APEC Third Senior Officials meeting, President Ts.Elbegdorj attended the
“Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership”, where he met with
President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in Beijing on November
08, 2014.
At the meeting,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the PR of China
Ts.Sukhbaatar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation
D.Gankhuyag, National Security and Foreign Policy Advisor to the President
L.Purevsuren and other representatives from Mongolian side were present.
Representing
the Chinese side, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central
Committee Wang Huning, Secretary of CPC Central Secretariat, Chief of the
General Office of the Communist Party Li Zhanshu, State Councilor of China Yang
Jiechi, Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and other officials have attended.
At the
beginning, President Xi Jinping noted, “I am glad to meet Mr. President
Elbegdorj, as old friends. Last August, upon the invitation of the President of
Mongolia, I paid a state visit to Mongolia. Mongolia left its wonderful
memories and lasting impression with me. Once again I thank you for your
invitation.
I would like to
thank you Mr. President Elbegdorj for attending the APEC’s session under the
theme “Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership”, upon my invitation.
This is the fifth time I met President Ts.Elbegdorj, within this year.
Recently, I
also met with the Speaker of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia
Z.Enkhbold. It fully shows the high-level of China-Mongolia bilateral
relations. Together with President Ts.Elbegdorj we are ready to enhance the
comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries”.
In response,
President Ts.Elbegdorj said, “I am truly grateful to attend the APEC Third
Senior Officials meeting upon your invitation. President Xi Jinping's visit to
Mongolia is of vital historic significance and it left a great impression on
the people of Mongolia. I am very glad to have this opportunity to meet with
you Mr. President for the fifth time in 2014 to exchange views on bilateral
relations as well as other wide range of issues. I am grateful for the people
of China for successfully organizing a number of international events this
year”.
During the
meeting parties exchanged views on the implementation of the works discussed
during the President Xi Jinping's state visit to Mongolia and
Mongolia-Russia-China trilateral meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Both sides also
discussed the joint coal gasification projects, expanding mutual partnership in
infrastructure sector. Heads of state expressed their readiness to cooperate on
the export of meat and meat products from Mongolia to China.
On November 09,
2014, President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj received the Chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China
Zhang Dejiang.
At the meeting,
Chairman Zhang Dejiang noted: “On behalf of the NPC Standing Committee, I
express my gratitude to Mr. President Elbegdorj for attending the APEC Third
Senior Officials. Last month, I held bilateral talks with the Speaker of the
State Great Khural of Mongolia Z.Enkhbold and signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on establishing permanent partnership mechanism between the State
Great Khural and the NPC Standing Committee. We hope that by enhancing
partnership between the top legislative bodies of Mongolia and China we will
contribute to developing mutual cooperation in all sectors”.
In response,
President Elbegdorj said, “Thank you Mr. Zhang Dejiang, for welcoming us at the
NPC Standing Committee. Our two countries are succeeding in developing
intensively bilateral ties and collaboration in all directions. Last August,
President Xi Jinping conducted a state visit to Mongolia and we agreed to
enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries. A comprehensive
strategic partnership means the two countries will carry out comprehensive
cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual
benefit”.
Related:
Presidents of Mongolia and China Meet – Montsame, November 10
Regular
International Pass Flights over Territory of Mongolia Increases by 8.1% Y-O-Y
November 10
(infomongolia.com) The Department of Air Navigation Service of the Civil
Aviation Authority of Mongolia (CAA) received 74,403 requests from
international and domestic flights of 48 air carriers to conduct flights over
the territory of Mongolia between October 26, 2014 and March 28, 2015.
Accordingly,
taking into account the requirements for the safety of flight, the CAA issued
70,264 permits, of which 61,853 are planned as regular international pass
flights and 8,411 flights are preserved as a stand-by way.
Moreover, the
regular landing and taking-off flights are estimated at 4,139, whereas for
international 2,423 and for local air carriers at 1,716. Compare to 2013-2014
winter schedules, the regular international pass flights are increased by 8.1%,
international landing and taking-off flights have increased by 5% and local by
5% respectively.
Firebreak
Strip along Mongolia-Russia Border being Situated
November 10
(infomongolia.com) A working group headed by the State Secretary of the
Ministry of Environment and Green Development Mr. Jamsran BATBOLD familiarized
with current works on wildfire prevention in Selenge Aimag on November 07,
2014.
In the
frameworks, the group worked at the Mongolian Border Unit No.0243 and accepted
the 97 km of 10 meters wide strip to prevent fires from spreading. This work
was financed with 30 million MNT (Tugrug) and the Border Unit plans to
accomplish more 250 km along the border with Russian side.
The Ministry of
Environment and the General Authority for Border Protection of Mongolia had
established a Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation on March 06, 2014 and
under the MoU, such wildfire prevention strip stretching over 1,000 km along the
border through territories of Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Selenge, Khentii and Dornod
Aimags of Mongolia will be done within 2016 and as of today, firebreak strip is
situated along the Mongolia-Russian border for over 400 km.
In 2012-2014,
19 cases of wildfire came from Russian territory were registered that caused
damages amounted to over 365 million MNT and 54.5 billion MNT was spent to stop
wildfire. Moreover, it is estimated up to 20% of total wild and forest fires
enter from the border of the Russian Federation.
President
Meets Chairman of NPC Standing Committee
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) The leader of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj received on November
9 the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of
China Mr Zhang Dejiang, in a scope of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
/APEC/ Third Senior Officials meeting,
Mr Zhang
Dejiang said: "On behalf of the Standing Committee I express my gratitude
to Mr President Elbegdorj for visiting our country. Upon the invitation of the
President Xi Jinping, President Elbegdorj attended the APEC Third Senior
Officials meeting themed 'Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership'
and met with the President Xi Jinping. It is very rare that the heads of state
of two countries meet five times a year. It shows the high level of
China-Mongolia bilateral relations and close friendship of the heads of state
of our countries.
"Last
month, I held bilateral talks with the Speaker of the State Great Khural of
Mongolia Z.Enkhbold and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on establishing
permanent partnership mechanism between the State Great Khural and the NPC
Standing Committee. We hope that by enhancing partnership between the top
legislative bodies will contribute to developing of mutual cooperation in all
sectors".
In response, Mr
Elbegdorj said: "Thank You Mr. Zhang Dejiang, for welcoming us at the NPC
Standing Committee. Our two countries are succeeding in developing intensively
bilateral ties and collaboration in all directions. Last August, the President
Xi Jinping conducted a state visit to Mongolia and we agreed to enhance the
comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries. A comprehensive
strategic partnership means the two countries will carry out comprehensive
cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual
benefit."
President
at APEC Meeting on "Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity
Partnership"
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) The President Ts. Elbegdorj is attending the APEC Third
Senior Officials Meeting in Beijing these days. He addressed the APEC
Ministerial Meeting on November 8 by his speech themed “Dialogue on
Strengthening Connectivity Partnership”.
He started by
congratulating the government of the People’s Republic of China on a successful
organization of the APEC High Officials Meeting. He also thanked the President
of the PRC Xi Jinping for inviting him to this Forum.
"Mongolia
fully supports the APEC’s vision and principles and we have been expressing our
interest to cooperate and join the APEC since 1993. Mongolia strives to meet
all APEC criteria, and using the APEC members’ practices as benchmark, Mongolia
has developed a Plan for Trade and Investment Liberalization. The APEC
economies account for about 80 percent of Mongolia’s foreign trade turnover and
70 percent of total foreign direct investment inflows to Mongolia”, he
said.
Being an Asian
country with an intensively growing economy, Mongolia has an enduring
aspiration to become a member of APEC, the premier forum for facilitating economic
growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific, and this goal is
one of our foreign policy strategic priorities, he went on.
Mr Elbergdorj
also noted that Mongolia’s being part of the Asia-Pacific region is not just a
geographical, but also a political factor, and said that Mongolia belongs to
the international forums and organizations, in particular, to the United
Nations and the Asia-Pacific regional groups. “Therefore, our regional agenda
is also centered on becoming a dialogue partner of ASEAN and joining the East
Asia Summit process”
Although,
Mongolia is a landlocked country, it has a vested interest in all the
"Three Pillars" of APEC work, which will help us develop much closer
economic ties with our immediate neighbors and other APEC economies, he said.
He noted about
Mongolia’s possibility to become the shortest transit line country connecting
Asia and Europe, by mentioning Mongolia’s joining the Asian Highway Network
signing the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network with
members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
Pacific "and we are responsible for building roads on AH3, AH32 and AH4
within our territory".
Mongolia
launched the construction project of a new international airport, which will be
commissioned and operational by December 2016. This airport shall make Mongolia
an air transit hub between the Europe and Asia, he went on.
Mongolia is
planning to construct approximately 5,600 km of railway infrastructure in 3
phases and the second phase - the construction of 1,800 km railway has started
in 2013, he said.
Recalling the
official visits of the Heads of State of Russia and China paid to Mongolia, he
emphasized the discussion of issues on establishing and developing transit transportation
corridors. “This will help Mongolia enhance cooperation with the Asia-Pacific
countries in economic, trade, investment, road-transportation, agriculture and
tourism sectors.”
“Once again, I
express Mongolia’s readiness to cooperate and to be involved in the Steppe Road
project, which connects Russia and China, with highway, high voltage electrical
line, gas and oil pipeline” he said.
At the end of
his speech, he said that as Mongolia’s economic potentials unfold, the APEC
member economies and Mongolia will enjoy greater cooperation venues and
platforms in mining, energy and infrastructure.
Mongolia’s
Rep and UN Human Rights Commissioner about Cooperation
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the UN
Headquarters in Geneva and to other international organizations Ambassador
V.Purevdorj met on November 6 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid
Ra'ad Al Hussein at the latter’s office in Geneva.
V.Purevdorj
congratulated Mr Al Hussein for being appointed the High Commissioner for human
rights and reassured Mongolia’s priority foreign policy that aims at
strengthening democracy, promoting UN actions towards protecting and ensuring
human rights and freedom, and actively being involved in those actions.
He also
informed him that Mongolia set goals to seek a membership in the UN Human Rights
Council in 2016-2018 and to improve its contributions in cherishing and
protecting of human rights on regional and international levels.
Mongolia’s
medium- and long-term report has been delivered to the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Human rights on implementing the recommendations that follow
discussions on Status Report on Human Rights in Mongolia by the UN Human Rights
Council, he added.
In response, Mr
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein conveyed his gratitude for President Ts.Elbegdorj for
attending as an honored guest and addressing in September the high-level
discussion on Abolishment of Capital Punishment, which ran in frames of the
69th Session of the UN GA. He emphasized Mongolia’s enduring contribution
to cherishing and ensuring of human rights and strengthening democracy on
regional and international spheres, and appreciated Mongolia’s voluntary
donation for promoting the activities of the Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights.
Mr Al Hussein
also expressed an aspiration to expand the cooperation with Mongolia in
promoting and ensuring human rights.
Social
Welfare Officials Visit Germany
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) A delegation of the Ministry of Population Development
and Social Welfare led by the State Secretary B.Otgonjargal paid a working
visit to Germany on November 3-8.
They met with
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Germany
Ts.Bolor to discuss the visit's agenda. The same day, a seminar was organized
for them by Ms O.Putsch, an officer of the Federal Statistical Office
responsible for Human development, and Mr T.Krebs, the head of the Berlin
Statistical Office. Another leg of the visit was a meeting with divisions of
foreign relations of the Department for Accident Insurance and of accident
insurances, at which the sides discussed realization of the agreed bilateral
cooperation as reflected in the Memorandum inked in 2013 by the General
Authority for Social Insurance of Mongolia and the Department for Accident
Insurance of Germany.
B.Otgonjargal
and a member of Bundestag and State Secretary for the Federal Minister of
Labour and Social Affairs A.Kramme met November 7 and signed a Activity
Programme of Cooperation between the two Ministries. They intend to collaborate
in studies for innovation of pension insurances, establishing pension funds,
preparing educated personnel to serve the disabled.
The delegates
also got acquainted with a social care and monitoring center for people with
mental illnesses and a housing district for people with special care located in
Wedding district, and of a recreation center for the disabled in Mitte district
of Berlin.
First
Lady Visits Beijing Museum
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) Mongolia’s First Lady, the spouse of the President, Ms
Kh.Bolormaa visited on November 9 the Capital Museum of Beijing at invitation
of the First Lady of China Peng Liyuan.
They were also
accompanied by the spouses of the President of Bangladesh and of the Secretary-General
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The ladies were introduced to
exhibits presenting ancient cultural heritage and folklore artworks.
Khan
Bank Introduces ISO 27001:2013 Standard
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) Khan Bank has successfully established Information
Security Management system /ISMS/ and received ISO/IEC 27001:2013 standard
certification for the first time in Mongolia, for the purpose of ensuring
information security of its clients and partners, and integrity of its
operation.
Khan Bank
utilizes Information and Communication Technology widely for delivering
comprehensive banking services to its clients via its 100% online network.
Therefore, the bank started ISMS project in 2013 covering its all operations
and information assets in the Head Office and Data Center of Khan Bank.
By establishing
ISMS in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001:2013 standard,
the bank has many benefits including protection of its information and
information assets from all types of external and internal threats, prevention
and mitigation of risks related with information security for ensuring its continues
operation.
Internationally
accredited IRQS audited the Head Office and Data Center of Khan Bank for
evaluating the bank’s implementation of the requirements specified in the
standard, and concluded that Khan Bank has fully satisfied the given
requirements. IRQS accredited Khan Bank with the certification recognizing that
the bank is the first organization to introduce new version of
ISO/IEC27001:2013 standard in Mongolia.
MBA
President Calls Press Conference
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) Minister of Population Development and Social Welfare
and the president of Mongolian Basketball Association (MBA) S.Erdene MP called
a press conference Monday to inform that the national team has ranked at fifth
place at the Asian Universities Basketball Championship held on November 3-8 in
Taipei, Taiwan.
He said that
skills and potentials of the Mongolian team and athletes have reached an
outstanding level and replied to reporters’ questions.
Mongolia
attends APEC summit
November 10
(news.mn) Mongolian President Ts.Elbegdorj is attending the 2014 Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week, in Beijing, from November
8-11th, the first time a Mongolian president has attended the meeting.
China's
president Xi Jinping chaired and addressed a dialogue on strengthening
connectivity partnership in the framework of the APEC summit. China is hosting
this year and invited six of its neighboring countries leaders to participate
in the dialogue, including the President.
The other
countries invited were Bangladesh, Laos, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Pakistan (Prime
Minister in attendance), and Cambodia (Prime Minister in attendance).
Secretaries of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) and representatives from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
were also present.
The
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim member
economies. It was established in 1989 by the Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministers of 12 countries, and expanded to 21 member economies to become one of
the most influential forums in the region.
APEC economies
currently hold 40 percent of the world's population, account for 57 percent of
global GDP, and 47 percent of global trade volume.
President of
Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj spoke during the dialogue on strengthening connectivity
partnership on Saturday, stating, "Mongolia supports APEC's goals and
principles.
"Mongolia
first approached cooperation with APEC in 1993 and voluntarily issued an
Individual Action Plan for Trade and Investment Liberalization in 2000, guided
by the APEC economies’ practices.”
Eighty percent
of Mongolia's foreign trade volume and 70 percent of foreign direct
investment belongs to APEC economies.
However, in
1997, APEC made a decision not to admit more members for one decade and the
decision was extended until 2010. Mongolia has been seeking APEC membership
since 2010.
Analysts say
that to strengthen economic growth and to build one of the steadiest economies
in Asia, Mongolia needs to join the APEC family to maintain growth and economic
integration, along with its two neighbors and other countries in the region.
Economically
and mutually linked Russia and China have pledged support for Mongolia to join
APEC. Participation in the summit and dialogue in Beijing is seen as a beneficial
move for Mongolia to join APEC.
Prime
Minister of Mongolia Expected to Be Announced on December 08, 2014
November 10
(infomongolia.com) On November 07-08, 2014, the irregular 43rd Meeting of the
National Consultative Committee of Democratic Party (DP) was held in the
Government House behind the closed doors and following the two-day meeting as
was expected to promote new Prime Minister of Mongolia, the DP Secretary
General Mrs. Ts.Oyundari gave a press conference on November 09, 2014.
The Secretary
General noted the DP Consultative Committee revised the current situation of
resigned Cabinet used to chair by Premier N.Altankhuyag, who was dismissed by
Parliament decision on November 05, 2014 and following the two-day meeting, the
DP members consequently agreed to call the Party Assembly Meeting scheduled on
December 08, 2014.
DP Secretary
General Ts.Oyundari stressed that the National Consultative Committee of DP is
authorized to raise a candidate for the Prime Minister of Mongolia and at the
meeting it was decided to give this full privilege to incumbent Head of
Democratic Party, MP N.Altankhuyag and other Parliamentarians.
After
consideration, the DP Group at the Parliament will submit the names of new
Cabinet members to the National Consultative Committee before December 08,
2014. Under this privilege, the DP Group members are entrusted to negotiate
with other political forces having seats at the Parliament (State Great Khural).
Moreover, it
was agreed to annul the Partnership Agreement established between the Head of
DP N.Altankhuyag and the Head of MPRP N.Enkhbayar, which was signed last
October 18th and brought a lot of conflicts among DP members.
According to DP
regulations, the Prime Minister will be announced within 30 days and therefore,
it was decided to meet again and announce new Prime Minister of Mongolia on
December 08, 2014.
Mongolia's
dairy sector offers opportunity
November 6
(oxfordbusinessgroup.com) Strong demand at home and abroad could prompt higher
investment in Mongolia’s dairy industry as the country strives to return to
self-sufficiency in milk, as well as capitalise on export potential in the
region.
Mongolia’s
agricultural industry remains key to the economy, with farming production
accounting for 16.5% of GDP. Although it is gradually being supplanted by the
mining sector, agriculture is the greatest single employer in the economy, representing
27.7% of the total labour pool, according to a recent report by the World Bank.
The dairy and associated livestock segment is the greatest contributor to the
sector, comprising around 50% of its workers and more than half its annual
output in terms of value.
Traditionally
the dairy segment has been a strong performer, with nomadic herding and
traditional dairy-product making at the heart of Mongolian society. Self
sufficient in milk production during the socialist era, the country suffered a
downturn in the 1990s, due to a fall in state support and extensive livestock
losses. Extreme climatic conditions at the turn of the century saw up to 30% of
farm animals perish, including nearly all the dairy cows.
This loss in
production capacity, combined with a lack of investment in processing
technology in existing plants, saw the gap in supplies made up with imported
materials.
Boosting investment and production
Under the
2007-16 National Dairy Plan the government set the target of boosting
production capacity to meet 90% of domestic milk demand. While it is unlikely
this goal can be achieved, with imports still necessary to bridge the supply
gap, producers are looking for technological solutions, such as keeping
products fresher for longer, and improving processing and quality, as well as
local initiatives to promote small-scale, organic producers.
Investments
could pay off in the medium term, as low domestic consumption rates offer an
opportunity to develop the market, according to Ts. Erdenebileg, chief executive
of mixed foods and beverages firm APU. “Mongolia needs to develop its capacity
in industrial dairy farming, as the segment offers strong potential for growth.
Annual dairy consumption in the country is 70 kg per person compared to more
than 150 kg in more developed markets,” he told OBG.
Further
investment in the sector is needed to bolster existing infrastructure and
improve output by raising food stock quality for cattle and developing higher
quality breeding and quality control programmes, Erdenebileg said.
Organic milk
production also poses an opportunity to create jobs in rural area, according to
A. Tungalag, CEO of Darkhan Khuns JSC, a food producer, which provides grass
and feed in exchange for fresh milk. “If more companies begin doing this,
Mongolia can be self-sufficient in milk,” he told OBG.
Export opportunities
Mongolia is a
nomadic country and products such as milk and meat are 100% organic, which
creates a big opportunity given the shift of consumer preferences towards
natural products. Indeed, the organic dairy market is expected to be worth
$15.9bn by 2019, according to Transparency Market Research, rising from
$11.16bn in 2012.
In Mongolia,
the dairy segment has the potential to grow its exports market, particularly in
neighbouring countries like Russia, said B. Gantulga, the CEO of dairy producer
Suu.
“The eastern
region of Russia suffers from a deficit in fresh milk,” he told OBG. “If
Mongolia were able to effectively develop its domestic production capacity, it
could begin exporting considerable quantities of milk to the country.”
Russia’s
current ban on agriculture and food imports from the EU, a response to recently
imposed sanctions over Moscow’s alleged involvement in military action in
Ukraine, could also open doors for Mongolian produce.
Mongolia would
be able to fill only a fraction of the $6.5bn gap created by the Russian ban on
certain EU foodstuffs. But with dairy products among those covered by the bans,
there could be a potential market opening up across the border. This opening
was widened during the visit to Mongolia by Russian President, Vladimir Putin,
in early September. Putin said there were significant opportunities for
Mongolian primary producers to export meat and other animal husbandry products
to his country, and that cooperation in agriculture among other fields could be
stepped up.
Stock
Exchange news for November 10
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 10 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Monday, a total of
42,999 shares of 18 JSCs were traded costing MNT 12 million 504 thousand and
555.00.
"Genco
Tour Bureau” /27,180 units/, “State Department Store” /6,326 units/, “Hermes
Center” /2,845 units/, “Khokh Gan” /2,170 units/ and "Remicon” /1,915
units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of
trading value were "State Department Store” (MNT three million 780
thousand and 640), "Genco Tour Bureau” (MNT two million 310 thousand and
480), “Telecom Mongolia” (MNT two million 167 thousand and 600), “Darkhan
Nekhii” (MNT 997 thousand and 500) and "Gutal” (MNT 950 thousand).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 540 billion 409 million 27
thousand and 40. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 15,346.52, increasing 34.49 units
or 0.23% against the previous day.
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