Press Releases: U.S.-Mongolia Consultations Advance Bilateral Relations
Media Note
On Friday, April 26, 2019, representatives of the United States and Mongolia met for the 13th Annual Bilateral Consultations at the Department of State in Washington, DC. This year’s consultations were the first held under the auspices of the U.S.-Mongolia Expanded Comprehensive Partnership, announced during Mongolian Prime Minister Khurelsukh’s official visit to Washington in September 2018.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs W. Patrick Murphy and Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary D. Davaasuren co-chaired the consultations, which were also attended by representatives from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Labor, and Treasury, along with the National Security Council, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
The United States and Mongolia exchanged views on how to promote their shared values in the Indo-Pacific region, with an emphasis on democracy, human rights, freedom of belief, and the rule of law. The United States noted that the Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) Mongolia program is extended through 2021, continuing support for young leaders working collaboratively to address Mongolia’s most pressing issues.
Further recognizing that strong people-to-people ties constitute the foundation of the bilateral relationship, the United States announced its intent to expand the Peace Corps presence in Mongolia, and also add a Mongolian Visiting Scholar component to the Fulbright program for the first time.
The United States and Mongolia held broad consultations on regional security matters, including their shared participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum, and on economic issues, including macroeconomic stability, regulatory transparency, countering financial crimes, sustainable infrastructure development, and investment in energy and other sectors. The United States and Mongolia agreed that aviation safety cooperation is a priority for both sides and will actively seek opportunities to deepen these ties. Both sides also identified mining safety as another area for deepened bilateral cooperation. The United States and Mongolia agreed to continue engagement in accordance with the 2018 Roadmap for Expanded Economic Partnership.