UK and Mongolia Embark on Annual Political Dialogue Focusing on Key Areas

The first UK-Mongolia political dialogue on 26 February 2025 focused on strengthening bilateral relations through respect for international law, boosting trade and investment, addressing climate change, promoting gender equality, responsible mineral extraction, and enhancing educational exchanges. Both nations affirmed their commitment to democratic principles and collaborative efforts moving forward.

On 26 February 2025, the UK and Mongolia held their inaugural annual political dialogue in London, focusing on respect for sovereignty and international law. British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, Minister Catherine West MP, welcomed Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan to the 15th UK-Mongolia roundtable under the Joint Cooperation Roadmap. The ministers reiterated their commitment to shared democratic values and emphasized the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter while addressing geopolitical tensions.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of fostering economic ties, with both nations pledging to enhance trade and investment volumes. Minister West and Deputy Prime Minister Sainbuyan discussed potential support from UK Export Finance for Ulaanbaatar’s metro system, along with plans to remove trade barriers and establish stable business environments.

Addressing climate change was a significant priority during the talks, with the ministers affirming their commitment to their Nations’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). They also expressed enthusiasm for Mongolia’s upcoming COP17 on Desertification in 2026 and pledged support for expert exchanges to aid preparations.

The commitment to gender equality was another point of discussion, as both parties recognized the increased representation of women in parliament, commending Mongolia’s 40% female candidates’ quota by 2028. They agreed to collaborate on international platforms to strengthen this initiative ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration.

Regarding critical minerals, the ministers underscored the necessity of responsible extraction that preserves Mongolia’s environmental integrity. They committed to adhere to environmental and social governance standards and emphasized skill development within the mining sector.

In terms of education and civil society, the ministers lauded existing programs that strengthen people-to-people ties, including the Chevening Scholarship. Minister West reiterated the UK’s support for enhancing English language education and proposed collaborations to extend higher education opportunities for Mongolian students.

Finally, both ministers acknowledged the vital role of civil society in democratic societies, pledging to engage these organizations in future discussions. They looked forward to future high-level exchanges to further enhance bilateral relations, with Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan also discussing trade cooperation with Minister Gareth Thomas during the meetings.

The inaugural UK-Mongolia political dialogue reinforced both nations’ commitment to democratic values, trade cooperation, climate action, and gender equality. The discussions highlighted key areas such as the enhancement of bilateral trade relations, responsible mineral extraction, and educational exchanges. Both ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining open dialogues and collaborative efforts to address international challenges and foster mutual interests.

Original Source: www.miragenews.com