Mongolia’s Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene introduced throughout his go to to Washington on Wednesday that the nation will strengthen cooperation with america in mining uncommon earths. Nonetheless, he expressed concern concerning the potential hurt to the worldwide economic system if a “new chilly struggle” between the U.S. and China escalates.
Caption: PM Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai spoke to Reuters correspondent Simon Lewis on the Mongolian embassy in Washington, U.S., on August 2, 2023, gesturing in entrance of the flag and a portrait of Genghis Khan.
The nation holds important deposits of uncommon earths and copper, essential for high-tech functions like protection tools and President Joe Biden’s efforts to advertise electrical autos to fight local weather change.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene highlighted that cooperation on uncommon earths and demanding minerals with the U.S., Mongolia’s “vital strategic third neighbour,” is already in progress. This cooperation can be deepened beneath a memorandum of understanding signed between Mongolia’s Ministry of Mining and Heavy Business and the U.S. State Division in June.
Whereas the East Asian nation goals to take care of good relations with each China, which controls a lot of the world’s uncommon earths deposits, and the U.S., Oyun-Erdene cautioned that his landlocked nation, located between China and Russia, might endure if superpower competitors intensifies.
He referred to america as Mongolia’s “guiding Polar Star for our democratic journey” and talked about discussions on additional enhancing democratic values.
The Biden administration’s give attention to strengthening relationships with Asian nations is a part of its technique to counter China’s rising affect and the “no limits” partnership between Beijing and Moscow.
Harris, Mongolian PM to Signal Civil Aviation Settlement
The USA and Mongolia are set to signal an “Open Skies” civil aviation settlement, as Vice President Kamala Harris and Mongolian Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene mentioned Russia, China, and financial growth throughout their assembly in Washington.
Caption: On August 2, 2023, PM Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai met VP Kamala Harris at her workplace in Washington.
As a part of an air transport settlement signed in January, the U.S. and Mongolia signed a memorandum of understanding.
Amid efforts to ease tensions with China and strained relations with Russia because of the ongoing Ukraine struggle, the Biden administration emphasizes strengthening ties with the landlocked nation and different Indo-Pacific nations. Key priorities embody addressing the local weather disaster, supporting democracies, upholding human rights, and selling the worldwide rules-based order.
With Russia to the north and China to the south, the landlocked nation pursues a diplomatic technique to take care of political independence, cultivating alliances with nations like Japan, South Korea, and america. Nonetheless, its economic system closely depends on its two neighbouring giants.
“The Open Skies Deal”
Greater than 130 nations have signed Open Skies civil aviation agreements with Washington, permitting airways from either side to function on one another’s territory, liberalize airline laws, and implement security and safety measures.
Caption: MIAT Mongolian Airways
The upcoming Open Skies deal between the U.S. and Mongolia builds upon a memorandum of understanding for an air transport settlement reached in January.
The nationwide airline of Mongolia, MIAT Mongolian Airways, flies to Europe and Asia however to not america. The brand new Open Skies deal goals to facilitate cargo flights between the 2 nations and supply financial alternatives.
This deal coincides with cultural trade initiatives and English-language coaching in official language of the nation, following laws that made English the primary overseas language in secondary training.
The agreements are strategic strikes to supply Mongolia with Washington-backed alternate options for financial growth, particularly contemplating historic corruption that deterred overseas investments within the landlocked Asian nation.