Mongolia - President Elbegdorj meets with Ms. McHale, Under Secretary of the US Department of State

Ms. Judith McHale, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs of the US Department of State called on a visit to the President Elbegdorj.

President Elbegdorj expressed satisfaction over successful development of bilateral relations and cooperation between Mongolia and the US. Noting the fact that Mongolia views the US as Mongolia’s third neighbor, President Elbegdorj expressed gratitude to the USA for the continued support of Mongolia’s efforts to promote democracy.

President underlined substantial expansion of bilateral relations between two countries over the recent years and re-affirmed Mongolia’s commitment to developing Mongolia-US relations based on principles of Comprehensive Partnership

“Democracy and free market economy is the common values of our peoples” – continued the President and stressed the need for continued US support and assistance in consolidating and empowering Mongolia’s market economy.

“The US is one of the important foreign trade partners of Mongolia. Expansion of trade and economic cooperation between Mongolia and the US would encourage US businessmen invest in Mongolia. US investment in Mongolia bears not only economic value, but also has geopolitical and strategic importance” – noted President Elbegdorj.

Mongolia’s development efforts are greatly shouldered by the Mongolian youth who study and studied in the US. President thanked Madame McHale for accepting Mongolia’s request to increase the number of Mongolian students, expanding the Fulbright scholarship program and launching a joint Scholarship fund with shared private funding.

Madame McHale agreed with President Elbegdorj and said the US would work to provide more opportunities to the Mongolian youth wishing to study in the US. She continued:”Studies show that 95% of the Mongolian students in the US study in 150 universities. Yet, there are hundreds of schools in the US and the opportunities for Mongolian students are indeed very wide”.

President Elbegdorj and Madame McHale further discussed possibilities to increase the number of bachelor-degree students and provide opportunities for children of low income families but who demonstrate strong skills through scholarship programs. Mining is evolving as one of the busiest sectors of Mongolia’s economy and President Elbegdorj expressed interest to train Mongolian youth in mining majors in the US.

Mongolia believes that the two countries have great potentials for cooperation in addressing climate change and developing renewable energy.

Madame Under Secretary thanked Mongolia and expressed US pride for Mongolia for supporting US initiatives such as Partnership for Democracy in Asia Pacific, Community of Democratic Countries and others. She noted that Mongolia is to chair the Community of Democratic Countries in 2011 and said Mongolia would need the financial and other forms of assistance on the part of the US and other partner countries.