Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of United Kingdom, Amanda Milling has visited in Mongolia 11th-13th of May. During the visit, Amanda Milling met with the Minister of Education and Science, the Deputy Ministers of Mines, Environment, and Foreign Affairs. She also co-chaired the 14th UK-Mongolia round table and visited the Oyu Tolgoi mine. During the visit, we had the opportunity to talk to here for a few minutes.
“WE REALLY SEE MONGOLIA AS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER AND FOCUS ON DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS”
- What is the main purpose of your visit and the expected outcome of the bilateral relations during the visit?
- First of all I should say that I'm absolutely delighted to be here on my first visit to Mongolia. In fact, it's the first visit of the UK ministers since 20th of October 2019, COVID-19 meant that it had been much more difficult for everyone to travel and all the ministerial visits that normally happens just simply postponed. So, because we haven’t had visits and dialogue for a while, we had so much to talk about in this visit.
The fact that I have been in Asia, including Mongolia and had all these important meetings in few days is the demonstration of that.
UK and Mongolia has very strong historical links. Actually next year we will celebrate our 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. So, it's been a really good opportunity to have conversation and meetings in terms of what we are going to do next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary and to deepen our relationship in various areas.
We were very delighted to welcome your President along with Foreign and Environment ministers to the UK for COP26 in 2021 which was one of the biggest events that brought people from around the world. And climate and the environment continues to be really important discussion point and area for us to collaborate.
I think the meetings I had in the last few days have been really productive and we had lot to discuss.
- Please share us more information on the issues discussed with the Ministers of Mongolia?
- I have been really pleased to be able to meet with number of ministers over the few days. In terms of meetings, we've covered such a broad range of areas from trade, education, environment and climate change to regional and global issues. For example, I met with the Deputy Mining minister and discussed the UK investment in the mining sector and collaboration in terms of mineral surveying. It's really good to see British companies already operating in this area. We know that there are more British companies who are interested in trade and invest opportunities in Mongolia.
When we talk about education, one of things which was very welcomed is the 3 year extension of Chevening partnership.
I co-chaired the 14th UK-Mongolia round table with the Minister of Education and Science and we covered wide-ranging areas. Clearly education was a key topic as well as a trade and environment as well. When we talk about education, one of things which was very welcomed is the 3 year extension of Chevening partnership.
- You are scheduled to visit the Oyu Tolgoi mine tomorrow. The British Trade Envoy of the U.K. Prime Minister, Daniel Kawczynski, recently visited Oyu Tolgoi a month ago. What is the main purpose of your visit to OT and how do you see the future of this project?
- Well first of all, I should say that I've heard great things about the Oyu Tolgoi mine. I'm very much looking forward to my visit where we are having a full day there. I think we're really optimistic about this particular project and the role that it can play in terms of attracting more investment to Mongolia. Also, the contribution it can make to the Mongolian economy is important.
I'm particularly welcome their recent agreement between Mongolian government and Rio Tinto and the start of the underground development phase of the mine. Because this is a really significant step in the project but for also increasing the benefits for Mongolia.
- My next question is about the war which is a big issue around the world currently. What financial and military support the United Kingdom provided to Ukraine so far?
The UK's offer of support to the Ukraine crisis currently stands at around £400 million of official development assistance. This includes £220 million of humanitarian aid, making the UK a leading bilateral humanitarian donor. On 23 February, Foreign secretary set out a multimillion-dollar economic package of support for Ukraine, guaranteeing up to $500 million in loans. The other areas in which we provided support is that over the last 8 years the UK trained more than 22000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces on the ‘’Operation Orbital’’.
Includes £220 million of humanitarian aid, making the UK a leading bilateral humanitarian donor.
On 24th of March, the UK announced it would provide 6000 defensive missiles which more than doubles defense support provided to date over 10000 missiles. Then on 26th of March, we announced to provide £2 million worth of food essentials as well. So, overall our current support for Ukraine has been around £400 million of official development assistance.
- After the Brexit, U.K. has been following ‘’Global Britain’’ foreign policy and approach, how this approach benefitted our two countries relationship so far?
-Before we get into the specifics of our post Brexit relations I want to talk about March of last year, where we published our ‘’Integrated Review’’ which sets out of Indo-Pacific tilt which kind of really shows our commitment and focus on this region. That review and strategy in the Indo-Pacific tilt is about all aspects of our relationship from security to trade, technology and diplomacy too. We really see Mongolia as an important partner and focus on deepening our relationships. The fact that I have been in Asia, including Mongolia and had all these important meetings in few days is the demonstration of that. But also, now we've left the European Union, Mongolia is included in the UK's ‘’Enhanced Framework Trade Preference Arrangement’’ that came about from the 1st of January of 2021 and this means that Mongolia benefits from reduced tariffs for imports into the UK.
- Thank you for your time.
- Thank you very much. I'm delighted to be here in Mongolia and look forward to coming back. Three days are not enough. During my visit we talked about attracting tourists to Mongolia and now people can travel again, I hope that more tourists are coming to Mongolia. Because I know that Mongolia has really lot to offer and I felt very inspired about what the government is looking at in terms of attracting more tourists to Mongolia.
Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of United Kingdom, Amanda Milling has visited in Mongolia 11th-13th of May. During the visit, Amanda Milling met with the Minister of Education and Science, the Deputy Ministers of Mines, Environment, and Foreign Affairs. She also co-chaired the 14th UK-Mongolia round table and visited the Oyu Tolgoi mine. During the visit, we had the opportunity to talk to here for a few minutes.
“WE REALLY SEE MONGOLIA AS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER AND FOCUS ON DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS”
- What is the main purpose of your visit and the expected outcome of the bilateral relations during the visit?
- First of all I should say that I'm absolutely delighted to be here on my first visit to Mongolia. In fact, it's the first visit of the UK ministers since 20th of October 2019, COVID-19 meant that it had been much more difficult for everyone to travel and all the ministerial visits that normally happens just simply postponed. So, because we haven’t had visits and dialogue for a while, we had so much to talk about in this visit.
The fact that I have been in Asia, including Mongolia and had all these important meetings in few days is the demonstration of that.
UK and Mongolia has very strong historical links. Actually next year we will celebrate our 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. So, it's been a really good opportunity to have conversation and meetings in terms of what we are going to do next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary and to deepen our relationship in various areas.
We were very delighted to welcome your President along with Foreign and Environment ministers to the UK for COP26 in 2021 which was one of the biggest events that brought people from around the world. And climate and the environment continues to be really important discussion point and area for us to collaborate.
I think the meetings I had in the last few days have been really productive and we had lot to discuss.
- Please share us more information on the issues discussed with the Ministers of Mongolia?
- I have been really pleased to be able to meet with number of ministers over the few days. In terms of meetings, we've covered such a broad range of areas from trade, education, environment and climate change to regional and global issues. For example, I met with the Deputy Mining minister and discussed the UK investment in the mining sector and collaboration in terms of mineral surveying. It's really good to see British companies already operating in this area. We know that there are more British companies who are interested in trade and invest opportunities in Mongolia.
When we talk about education, one of things which was very welcomed is the 3 year extension of Chevening partnership.
I co-chaired the 14th UK-Mongolia round table with the Minister of Education and Science and we covered wide-ranging areas. Clearly education was a key topic as well as a trade and environment as well. When we talk about education, one of things which was very welcomed is the 3 year extension of Chevening partnership.
- You are scheduled to visit the Oyu Tolgoi mine tomorrow. The British Trade Envoy of the U.K. Prime Minister, Daniel Kawczynski, recently visited Oyu Tolgoi a month ago. What is the main purpose of your visit to OT and how do you see the future of this project?
- Well first of all, I should say that I've heard great things about the Oyu Tolgoi mine. I'm very much looking forward to my visit where we are having a full day there. I think we're really optimistic about this particular project and the role that it can play in terms of attracting more investment to Mongolia. Also, the contribution it can make to the Mongolian economy is important.
I'm particularly welcome their recent agreement between Mongolian government and Rio Tinto and the start of the underground development phase of the mine. Because this is a really significant step in the project but for also increasing the benefits for Mongolia.
- My next question is about the war which is a big issue around the world currently. What financial and military support the United Kingdom provided to Ukraine so far?
The UK's offer of support to the Ukraine crisis currently stands at around £400 million of official development assistance. This includes £220 million of humanitarian aid, making the UK a leading bilateral humanitarian donor. On 23 February, Foreign secretary set out a multimillion-dollar economic package of support for Ukraine, guaranteeing up to $500 million in loans. The other areas in which we provided support is that over the last 8 years the UK trained more than 22000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces on the ‘’Operation Orbital’’.
Includes £220 million of humanitarian aid, making the UK a leading bilateral humanitarian donor.
On 24th of March, the UK announced it would provide 6000 defensive missiles which more than doubles defense support provided to date over 10000 missiles. Then on 26th of March, we announced to provide £2 million worth of food essentials as well. So, overall our current support for Ukraine has been around £400 million of official development assistance.
- After the Brexit, U.K. has been following ‘’Global Britain’’ foreign policy and approach, how this approach benefitted our two countries relationship so far?
-Before we get into the specifics of our post Brexit relations I want to talk about March of last year, where we published our ‘’Integrated Review’’ which sets out of Indo-Pacific tilt which kind of really shows our commitment and focus on this region. That review and strategy in the Indo-Pacific tilt is about all aspects of our relationship from security to trade, technology and diplomacy too. We really see Mongolia as an important partner and focus on deepening our relationships. The fact that I have been in Asia, including Mongolia and had all these important meetings in few days is the demonstration of that. But also, now we've left the European Union, Mongolia is included in the UK's ‘’Enhanced Framework Trade Preference Arrangement’’ that came about from the 1st of January of 2021 and this means that Mongolia benefits from reduced tariffs for imports into the UK.
- Thank you for your time.
- Thank you very much. I'm delighted to be here in Mongolia and look forward to coming back. Three days are not enough. During my visit we talked about attracting tourists to Mongolia and now people can travel again, I hope that more tourists are coming to Mongolia. Because I know that Mongolia has really lot to offer and I felt very inspired about what the government is looking at in terms of attracting more tourists to Mongolia.