Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai Before Their Meeting

PRIME MINISTER LUVSANNAMSRAI:  (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary of State, it is my pleasure to (inaudible).  It has been one year since my visit to the United States and (inaudible) many events (inaudible).  And I would like to emphasize that the United States is not just our important (inaudible) but is our guiding north star on our democratic journey, as I mentioned during my visit to Washington, D.C.  Mongolians always appreciate that.  And then Secretary of State John Kerry (inaudible) our democracy during his visit to Mongolia in 2006.  And in the past 37 years, the United States has been our important partner and served as a model for Mongolia to cooperate on important issues of democratic values, the rule of law, developing a market economy and private sector.

As you know, Mongolia is a landlocked country sandwiched between our two neighbors, Russia and China, and also we have (inaudible) in Mongolia.  And also, our Mongolian – our economy is based on one large sector of mining, and 90 percent of our export goes to only one country, and most of them are mining models.  And as I touched upon and emphasized during my visit to Washington, cooperation with the United States is important for ensuring Mongolia’s economic diversification and independence.

And I have a very fond memory of the special meetings I had with three women in the U.S. administration.  And of course, I had a very good meeting with my counterpart, Vice President Kamala Harris, and taking this opportunity publicly to extend my wishes for best of luck for her upcoming elections.  And I had an excellent meeting with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.  During that visit we have exchanged views on cooperating in the economy as well as doing the evaluation of Mongolia’s economic outlook.  So I look forward to continuing that cooperation.

And also, I had a great meeting (inaudible) democracy, as well as on the rule of law and the (inaudible).  As well, Mr. Secretary, (inaudible).  And as you can see, starting from our (inaudible), we have many (inaudible) and now (inaudible).

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, thank you so much, Prime Minister.  It’s wonderful to see you again, this time in Mongolia.  And I bring you warm greetings as well from President Biden and from Vice President Harris, who remembers well the meeting that you had.

We’re proud to be your third neighbors, and indeed, we want to be a good neighbor.  And together, through our Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue and the work that our governments are doing, we’re strengthening even more our economic ties, our people-to-people ties, our political ties.  And I believe strongly that with all the good work that we’ve already done, there is much more to be done.  And I see a very strong, positive future between our countries, and we will continue to work on that every day.

And finally, congratulations on your elections and on your reappointment, Mr. Prime Minister.