Sima Malhotra emphasized the potential for partnership between the UK and Mongolia in the field of rare earth elements
On March 23, 2026, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Zandanshatar Gombojav, met with Sima Malhotra, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific Region at the UK Foreign Office. This news is reported by MiddleAsianNews.
At the beginning of the meeting, Zandanshatar expressed gratitude for Sima Malhotra's visit and noted her role in strengthening bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister noted that the development of relations with the UK, which is one of Mongolia's key "third neighbors" and an important partner in Europe, occupies a central place in the country's foreign policy. He confirmed Mongolia's intention to move to a new level of bilateral partnership covering all areas.
He also mentioned that English has become the primary foreign language in Mongolia's education system, which facilitates the development of cooperation in education, including scholarship programs and joint scientific projects.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister noted that Mongolia is preparing to host the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August 2026. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals and combat environmental degradation.
Sima Malhotra thanked the Prime Minister for the warm welcome and noted that there is a wide range of opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as mining, energy, and public transport development.
She highlighted the particular interest of the UK in collaborating with Mongolia in areas such as rare earth elements and renewable energy. Additionally, the prospects for jointly constructing a subway in Ulaanbaatar were discussed, which she believes could significantly strengthen friendly relations and create economic ties between the two countries.
