Russian President Vladimir Putin received a red carpet welcome on Tuesday on a state visit to 🇲🇳 Mongolia.

As he stepped out of his limousine in the capital Ulaanbaatar, Putin was greeted by his Mongolian counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in front of a row of ceremonial guardsmen on horseback wearing helmets with pointed tops.

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The Kremlin leader stooped to kiss a young girl who stepped forward to welcome him in Russian and present him with flowers.

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The Mongolian leader said he hoped the visit would boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Mongolia is on the planned route of a major pipeline that Russia wants to construct in order to carry 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year from its Yamal region to China.

The project, Power of Siberia 2, is Russia planned successor to an existing pipeline of the same name which already supplies Russian gas to China and is due to reach its planned capacity of 38 billion cubic metres per year in 2025.

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The new venture has long been bogged down over key issues such as the pricing of the gas. However, Putin said on the eve of his visit that preparatory work, including feasibility and engineering studies, were proceeding as scheduled.

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