During his official visit to the U.S, H.E. Mr. U. Khurelsukh, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, met the Honorable Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, in the White House on September 19, 2018, and exchanged views on the ways to expand and strengthen the relations and cooperation between Mongolia and the United States.

Prime Minister U. Khurelsukh highlighted that Mongolia and the U.S. share common values such as democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights, freedom, justice and equality; and expressed his satisfaction with the successful development of the Mongolia-US relations, covering wide range of areas, such as political cooperation, defense, economy, culture, as well as humanitarian field.

The Prime Minister conveyed to the Vice President that the people of Mongolia always remember the unwavering support of American people and successive US Administrations towards Mongolia during its transition into a democracy; supporting the determination of its people towards freedom and justice, and assistance provided during the difficult times of shifting into the market economy.

Prime Minister, while affirming the United States as Mongolia’s important third neighbor, close partner, noted that the peacekeepers of both nations serve side-by-side for the regional, as well as global peace.

During the meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their joint objective of deepening the bilateral relations and cooperation between Mongolia and the U.S and reaching the strategic partnership. Guided by this goal, both sides acknowledged that they upgrading the relationship into the level of “Expanded Comprehensive Partnership”, and agreed upon the “Roadmap for expanded economic partnership between Mongolia and the United States of America”.

The implementation of the Roadmap is an important part of Mongolia’s objective of diversification of its economy, and it will increase opportunities for cooperation with the U.S. in the areas of agriculture and renewable energy. A number of Congressmen introduced the “Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act” bill to the US Congress with the view of looking into possibilities of providing a duty-free treatment for the Mongolian cashmere and textile products to the U.S. market.

Prime Minister U. Khurelsukh emphasized that the Second Compact Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the US Millennium Challenge Corporation will play an important role in improving the livelihood of Mongolian people, providing an economic growth and sustainability of the environment and ecology; and expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of the United States.

The Prime Minister, on behalf of the people and the Government of Mongolia, expressed condolences for the loss of precious human lives and damages caused by the hurricane, which affected the southern states of the U.S, and offered assistance.

Vice President Pence expressed appreciation to the people and the Government of Mongolia for their moral support and highlighted that the MCC’s Second Compact is a sign of the high importance that the US Government attaches to its relations with Mongolia.

The Honorable Pence congratulated the Mongolian Armed Forces with the distinguished service in Afghanistan; and noted Mongolia’s continued support of the commitment of international community towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Prime Minister U. Khurelsukh invited Vice President M. Pence to visit Mongolia at a time of his convenience.

From the Mongolian side, the meeting was attended by Mr. D. Tsogtbaatar, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yo. Otgonbayar, Ambassador of Mongolia to the United States, and Mr. Ch. Khurelbaatar, Minister of Finance.

Mr. John Bolton, the National Security Adviser to the President, Lt. General Keith Kellogg, the National Security Advisor to the Vice President, Mr. Nick Ayers,  Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Mr. Matthew Pottinger, the NSC Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Mr. Nicolas Snyder, Special Advisor for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific of the Office of the Vice President, were also present at the meeting.