UK-Mongolia communique: May 2022
The 14th UK-Mongolia round table meeting took place on 12 May 2022 in Ulaanbaatar.
The delegation of Mongolia was headed by HE Mr. Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren, Minister of Education and Science while the delegation of the United Kingdom (UK) was headed by The Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP, Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Ministers recalled that Mongolia and the UK established diplomatic relations in 1963. They welcomed the continued progress in the Mongolia-UK bilateral relationship, reaffirmed their commitment to broaden this further and set out their desire to negotiate a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
Trade, Economic, and Investment cooperation
Ministers welcomed the inclusion of Mongolia in the UK’s “Enhanced Framework” Trade Preference Arrangements from 1 January 2021 and expressed their intention to engage actively to facilitate bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
They also welcomed the recent first visit of the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Mongolia, Daniel Kawczynski MP and the recent agreement between Rio Tinto and the Mongolian government on commencement of the underground phase of the Oyu Tolgoi project.
They noted the importance of an attractive business and investment environment in Mongolia and welcomed ongoing work on investment protection, legal reform and combatting corruption.
Ministers welcomed the long-standing relationship between the London Stock Exchange and the Mongolian Stock Exchange and looked forward to further collaboration between respective financial institutions.
Ministers welcomed ongoing collaboration between the National Geological Office of Mongolia and the British Geological Survey, as well as efforts to introduce advanced technologies, equipment, and best practice to the fields of geology, mining and heavy industry of Mongolia.
Education and Science cooperation
Ministers agreed to promote cooperation aimed at improving the education and assessment systems of Mongolia and enhancing the training capacity and English language skills of teachers, including through inter alia the Cambridge programme, the Chevening partnership agreement and the Global Partnership for Education.
Climate, Energy and Environment cooperation
Ministers welcomed the historic climate agreement reached at COP26 in Glasgow, which keeps the 1.5C goal alive, as well as global action on coal, cars, cash and trees, and new net zero commitments covering 90% of the global economy.
In this regard, Ministers welcomed President Khurelsukh’s attendance at COP26 and his pledge to protect forests and Plant Billion Trees by 2030.
Ministers agreed on the importance of full implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as greening the energy sector and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. In this regard they welcomed the prospect of cooperation on hydropower opportunities in Mongolia.
Ministers welcomed mutual action to support an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15. They also welcomed existing cooperation in combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade, including the Zoological Society of London’s UK-funded projects in Mongolia to support these efforts and in conservation.
Transport Cooperation
Ministers looked forward to renewing in the near future the bilateral Air Services Agreement, to support transport links between the two countries.