According to MiddleAsianNews, a new cross-party group dedicated to Mongolia (An All-Party Parliamentary Group — APPG) has been formed in the UK Parliament. The first meeting took place on February 2, 2026, with the participation of Mongolia's ambassador, Enkhzukh Battemur. This information was disseminated through the official Facebook page of the Mongolian embassy.
The initiator of the parliamentary group was James Wild, who took the position of chair, while Catherine West became the deputy chair.
Also included in the leadership of the group were Mr. Dave Dugan and Baroness Northover. More than 20 parliamentarians expressed their desire to participate in the group's work. Among those present at the first meeting were: Mr. James Wild, Ms. Catherine West, Mr. Dave Dugan, Baroness Northover, Mr. Fabian Hamilton, Baroness Evans, Lord Cromwell, Baroness Uddin, Baroness Hooper, and Earl Courtown.
Participants in the meeting also included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Ms. Karen Maddox, Deputy Director of the Northeast Asia Department, and Ms. Sophie Worrell, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.
The parliamentary group on Mongolia was first established in 1995 and has since actively engaged in issues related to Mongolian-British relations, posing questions to the UK government and requesting necessary information, as well as providing support. The involvement of parliamentarians in the group has played an important role in assisting Mongolia during its transitional period.
Members of the newly formed group expressed interest in obtaining detailed information about the actions and policies of the Mongolian government in key areas such as minerals, renewable energy, environmental protection, the role of women, and security issues. They expressed their readiness to support parliamentary efforts to strengthen cooperation between Mongolia and the UK in these areas.
Inter-parliamentary groups (APPG) are voluntary associations of parliamentarians formed to discuss specific issues or countries of interest and must include at least 20 members from various political parties represented in Parliament.
Recent changes to the rules governing parliamentary groups have limited membership opportunities, allowing each MP to belong to no more than six groups. In this context, the establishment of the parliamentary group on Mongolia in the new composition of the UK Parliament of 2024 underscores the significance attributed to Mongolia in the British Parliament.
