Mongolia-US relations advanced to expanded comprehensive partnership
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh is paying an official visit to the United States these days. Formal measures of the PM’s visit commenced by a meeting with Michael Richard Pence, Vice President of the United States, on September 19 at the White House. At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on expanding and developing Mongolia-U.S. relations and cooperation.
Underlining shared common values of the both countries
such as democracy, legitimacy, respect for human rights, freedom, justice and
equality, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh expressed his pleasure with ties between
Mongolia and the United States which are developing successfully in all areas
such as politics, defense, economy, culture and humanitarian over 30 years of
period since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The PM said that the people of Mongolia always recall persistent supports of the US administration and its people for Mongolia’s democracy and people’s aspiration for their rights and freedom along their generous assistance for Mongolia to overcome difficulties during transitional period to a free market economy.
Affirming the United States as the third neighbor and close partner of Mongolia, PM U.Khurelsukh pointed out that peacekeepers and soldiers of the two countries are serving together for global and regional security.
At the meeting, the sides avowed their intent for
deepening bilateral ties and cooperation and elevating it into a strategic
level and affirmed that the sides are advancing the level of bilateral
cooperation to ‘Expanded Comprehensive Partnership’ within the intent. Thus,
they agreed ‘Roadmap for Mongolia-U.S Expanded Economic Partnership’.
Realizing the roadmap is an important part of Mongolia’s
objectives to diversify its economy and it will increase possibilities to
cooperate with the U.S. in agriculture and renewable energy sectors. In
addition, some U.S. Congress members have submitted ‘The Mongolia Third
Neighbor Trade Act’ to the Congress, seeking opportunities to export Mongolian
cashmere and textile garments to the United States duty free.
Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh emphasized that the Compact Agreement established between the Government of Mongolia and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation has great significance for improving livelihood of Mongolian people and ensuring economic growth as well as environmental and ecological sustainability and he expressed sincere gratitude to the Government of the United States.
Moreover, the PM expressed deepest condolences on
behalf of the Government and people of Mongolia for
the loss of lives due to Hurricane Florence in the United States and informed
Mongolia would render assistance to those affected by the hurricane.
Vice President M.Pence thanked the Government of Mongolia and its people for gift of USD100,000 in camel hair blankets to those affected by Hurricane Florence. He stated that the Compact Agreement between Mongolia and the Millennium Challenge Corporation is an evidence of high priority of the U.S. Administration to its relations with Mongolia.
Moreover, M.Pence congratulated to contingent of the Mongolian Armed Forces on fulfilling their duty reputable in Afghanistan and recognized Mongolia’s support on UN efforts for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
In the conclusion, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh invited
Vice President M.Pence to visit Mongolia at his convenience.
Present at the
meeting were D.Tsogtbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Yo.Otgonbayar,
Ambassador of Mongolia to the USA, and Ch.Khurelbaatar, Minister of Finance of
Mongolia and John R. Bolton, National Security Advisor to President Donald
Trump, Lieutenant General Joseph Keith Kellogg, National Security Advisor to
the Vice President, and Matthew Pottinger, Senior Director
for Asian Affairs at the White House National Security
Council as well as others.