At the invitation of Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene L. of Mongolia is undertaking an official visit to the country.
On August 2, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene L. engaged in official discussions with US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Preceding the negotiations, a government-level statement was issued, marking the first instance of both nations addressing the existing status of their strategic partnership, and highlighting key areas of priority in relations and cooperation.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene L. and Vice President Kamala Harris underscored the imperative of fortifying the strategic partnership between Mongolia and the United States, along with the broader augmentation of cooperation spanning politics, defense, economy, education, and humanitarian efforts. During their discussions, they shared perspectives on fostering substantial progress in areas encompassing space study, digital development, mineral resources, transportation, logistics, and climate change.
In line with Mongolia's economic diversification efforts, both parties hold the conviction that the newly established strategic economic roadmap for its third neighbor will play a pivotal role in amplifying trade, economic collaboration, and United States investment. Furthermore, it has been disclosed that direct flights connecting Mongolia and the United States are set to inaugurate in the second quarter of 2024, following the finalization of the air transport agreement. This development is believed to lead to an expansion of business ties between the two nations and the emergence of new opportunities for reciprocal travel and tourism.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene L. expressed Mongolia's intention to explore potential avenues of collaboration with the United States in the realm of space science. The focus also lies on bolstering personnel capacity within the e-economy and high-tech sectors, facilitating English teacher training, expanding exchange programs, fostering green development, and harnessing critical mineral resources. Additionally, in light of the Government of Mongolia's proclamation of 2023-2024 as the "Year of Fighting Corruption," he conveyed a keen interest in forging a close partnership directed towards enhancing democracy and combating corruption.
Vice President Kamala Harris conveyed her gratification at the Prime Minister of Mongolia's official visit, marking a significant occasion after an extended duration. She underscored the United States' prioritization of cultivating relations and cooperation with Mongolia, rooted in mutual values including democracy, a market economy, human rights, freedom, and the advancement of civil society. In this context, she articulated an aspiration to enhance the trade and economic collaboration between the two nations with innovative dimensions, while also pledging their commitment to safeguard democracy and human rights, reinforce effective governance, and further fortify this closely-knit cooperation in the years ahead.
During the Prime Minister's visit, novel areas of collaboration will find expression and endorsement within the "Strategic Third Neighborhood Partnership Roadmap on Economic Cooperation between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the United States of America." Furthermore, the following agreements are set to be established during this visit:
- the "Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the United States on Air Transport,"
- the "Memorandum between the Ministry of Road and Transport Development of Mongolia and the Department of Transportation of the United States of America on Cooperation concerning Issues of Mutual Interest in the Transport Sector,"
- a memorandum of understanding between the State Intellectual Property Office of Mongolia and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Following the outcomes of the discussions, a collaborative statement titled "Strategic Third Neighborhood Partnership between Mongolia and the United States" will be issued.
On August 4, Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene L. held discussions with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, encompassing a comprehensive array of topics aimed at enhancing and fortifying the strategic partnership between Mongolia and the United States. Prior to the meeting, a "Strategic Third Neighborhood Partnership Road Map on Economic Cooperation between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the United States of America" was established and signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Battsetseg from Mongolia, and during the same occasion, the "Agreement on Air Transport between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the United States of America" was signed by Minister of Road and Transport Development Byambatsogt S., along with US Secretary of State A. Blinken.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene.L visited the Washington branch of Google, the world's leading information and technology company, on August 4. Mark Isakowitz, Global Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google (USA, Canada), highlighted Mongolia's remarkable advancement in the United Nations e-Government Development Index within a short span of time. The meeting has yielded an agreement to introduce the products and services of Google, a frontrunner in the information technology sector, to Mongolia. Additionally, both parties issued a joint statement affirming their support for Mongolia's enduring development strategy, "Vision 2050." Furthermore, collaborative efforts will commence to introduce YouTube Local and Android payment services to the Mongolian market. The introduction of these services holds the potential to provide a revenue stream for startups and app developers via Android in-app purchases. Google has committed to initiating a program aimed at equipping 10,000 educators in Mongolia's education sector with e-skills.
On August 4, Mongolian Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene held a meeting with Gina Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce. They engaged in discussions regarding potential cooperation opportunities in sectors such as mining, clean energy, and agriculture. Both parties affirmed their commitment to focus on the reciprocal visit of business delegates from both countries in 2023, as well as the effective execution of the recently established Roadmap for Economic Cooperation under the Strategic Third Neighborhood Partnership.
