US Deputy Secretary of State meets with PM and Foreign Minister

On July 19, James B.Steinberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, arrived in Mongolia to meet with senior Mongolian officials Prime Minister S.Batbold, Foreign Minister G.Zandanshatar and members of civil society. During the visit the two sides evaluated the present situation in Mongolian-American relations, expressed interest to develop full partnership relations in all spheres of economy relying on the common values of democracy, freedom and human rights, and exchanged views on the foreign policy of Mongolia, and some issues related with the regional security of Central Asia and North East Asia. The Deputy Secretary of State’s visit is expected to strengthen ties in the region

The government of the USA congratulated Mongolia once again, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the democratic movement in this country. “The American administration considers Mongolia as a model State which developed democracy in the vast region of Central Asia,” pointed out the US Deputy Secretary of State Prime Minister S.Batbold received Mr.Steinberg on July 19 and said Mongolia-U.S. relations are developing in good fashion and the two countries have made progress in the social, political and economic sectors. “The United States remains a staunch supporter of Mongolia’s transition to a market economy and social as well as political democracy,” said the PM, noting that the present bilateral relations between the two countries are being elevated to a new qualitative level. For example, Mongolia would continue to protect international and regional security and has dispatched peacekeepers to a series of global hot spots in partnership with the US and many other countries. Mongolia is always ready to share her rich experience with any country of the world, cooperate in developing a market economy, respecting democracy and the human values obtained over the past twenty years, said the PM. He said assistance programs managed by the U.S. Millenium Challenge Corporation are being implemented successfully in Mongolia, and that in the future this country has fine opportunities to develop trade and economic cooperation with the US, expand investment, exchange business, and wishes to cooperate in the education sphere, develop information technology and shifting technologies. The US Deputy Secretary of State said he highly appreciates cooperation between the USA and Mongolia and promised to work to enhance relations and cooperation in the future. “The US supports Mongolia’s peaceful policy for safeguarding the world and regional security,” he said. Mr. Steinberg said the US values Mongolia’s efforts in strengthening international and regional security, pointing out that the experience of Mongolia in democratic transition is a model for other States. He supported the initiatives and proposals forwarded by the Mongolian Prime Minister and stressed that the relationship and cooperation with Mongolia will expand by training Mongolian students and specialists in America.
Traveling to Mongolia for the first time as Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Steinberg also visited Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, before flying to Japan.
source: The Mongol Messenger' - MONGOLIA’S FIRST ENGLISH WEEKLY PUBLISHED BY MONTSAME NEWS AGENCY