Washington, D.C. —At the reception held by the Embassy of Mongolia on Monday evening for Mongol Zurag: Tradition and Modernity, the program opened with welcoming remarks from Ambassador Batbayar Ulziidelger, who provided the context for the evening before inviting Jonathan Fritz, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to deliver his addres
Fritz began by expressing appreciation to Ambassador Batbayar Ulziidelger for the invitation. He noted the close alignment between his remarks and those of the Ambassador, describing this as a natural result of the strong cooperation between both countries. He stated clearly that the United States values its role as Mongolia’s third neighbor and remains committed to strengthening ties at every level.
He pointed to recent progress that reflects steady engagement. Fritz referenced the new United Airlines route to Ulaanbaatar as an important step in expanding travel access and supporting people-to-people contact. He noted that it is the first U.S. airline flight to Mongolia and described it as a development that will help broaden exchange in practical ways.
A substantial portion of his remarks addressed the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Water Compact. Fritz explained that the project, now in its final stages, will secure water access for approximately 1.7 million residents of Ulaanbaatar. He also underscored Mongolia’s financial contribution to the compact, noting that this collaboration shows how both partners work with shared responsibility.
He then turned to economic cooperation. Fritz mentioned ongoing work to strengthen supply chains, reduce vulnerable dependencies, and support job creation in both countries. He added that educational exchanges remain active, with the Fulbright program continuing to bring Mongolian students and professionals to the United States.
Security cooperation formed another part of his address. Fritz referred to the recent visit of Mongolia’s Chief of the General Staff to Washington and described it as a productive engagement. He also acknowledged Mongolia’s long record in United Nations peacekeeping operations, calling attention to the professionalism of Mongolian peacekeepers in places such as South Sudan.
As he concluded, Fritz stated that the United States values its long-standing partnership with Mongolia and looks forward to continued cooperation. He thanked Ambassador Ulziidelger once again for hosting the event and closed with a brief expression of gratitude in Mongolian, “Bayarlalaa.”
