Secretary Clinton praises Mongolia’s democracy, emphasizes need for expansion of bilateral economic, trade and commercial ties 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Mongolia on July 9 for just under 24 hours, praised Mongolia as a model of democracy in the region, an “inspiration” to others, and in meetings with government leaders, called for expanded US economic engagement in the nation.  

Mrs. Clinton pointedly noted that Mongolia’s success proves that democracy is not just a Western value. International news media reports tended to interpret her comments as a swipe at China, which made some Mongols uneasy. The Los Angeles Times reported that a Chinese microblogging site blocked Secretary Clinton’s remarks on human rights in Mongolia, quoting a University of Hong Kong group that monitors Chinese media. 

Secretary Clinton met with President Ts. Elbegdorj, Prime Minister S. Batbold, and addressed both the Governing Council of the Community of Democracies and the International Women’s Leadership Forum. In meetings with government officials, she emphasized the US interest in helping to develop the Tavan Tolgoi project and in otherwise expanding US-Mongolia ties in trade and investment. 


 



President Elbegdorj welcomes Secretary Clinton