The 2020 Annual Bilateral Consultation (ABC) between the US Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia was held virtually on September 14.

The sides discussed the current state of Mongolian-US relations and cooperation, as well as issues of mutual interest in regional and international relations. In particular, they exchanged views on the implementation of the strategic partnership announced by the presidents of the two countries in 2019, further goals to strengthen the partnership, expand economic cooperation, plan post-epidemic cooperation, including high-level reciprocal visits.

During the meeting, it was agreed to hold a regular economic policy consultation meeting between the two countries in the near future to intensify bilateral economic relations.

The two sides highlighted that Mongolia and the US are helping each other amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the US has provided more than 1.2 million USD in assistance and has also announced that respirators will be provided to Mongolia, while Mongolia donated 1 million USD in medical protection equipment to the US.

US Department of State Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs David R. Stilwell and Mongolia’s Foreign Ministry State Secretary N.Ankhbayar led the meeting.

This virtual event underscores the strength of cooperation and shared values and is an opportunity to reaffirm concrete steps in our bilateral relationship.

The US and Mongolia share a deep commitment to the democratic values enshrined in the two countries’ respective constitutions, such as human rights, religious freedom, and rule of law. They also noted that bilateral law enforcement cooperation continues to grow, namely on border security and transnational crime.