Mongolia, U.S. vow to enhance defense cooperation

ULAN BATOR, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold and a visiting senior U.S. defense official reaffirmed their willingness to enhance cooperation in security and defense sectors, the Mongolian government said Friday.

Mongolia is working with the United States in strengthening international as well regional security and will extend their cooperation to help strengthen and maintain security in Asia and Pacific Rim area, Batbold said while meeting with Wallace Gregson, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

The Mongolian prime minister also mentioned the "Khaan Quest" peacekeeping military drill held in Mongolia every year since 2004, saying the drill plays an important role in improving skill of Mongolian peacekeepers and strengthening mutual trust and understanding between the arm forces of the participating countries.

He noted that Mongolia has sent soldiers to serve honorably as UN peacekeepers in many of hotspots around the world.

In his part, Gregson said the United States highly values U.S. -Mongolia relations, especially cooperation between their defense sectors.

He added that Mongolian peacekeeping troops play an important role in international peacekeeping operations.

About 204 military personnel from Mongolia and 125 others from Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are participating in the drill known as Khaan Quest 2010 to be end on Saturday.
Editor: Fan Chunxu

Source:Xinhua news agency of China