Sima Malhotra noted the UK's interest in collaborating with 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 at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. This was reported by MiddleAsianNews.
At the beginning of the conversation, Zandanshatar expressed gratitude for the minister's visit from the UK and acknowledged her contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with the United Kingdom, which is one of Mongolia's main "third neighbors" and an important European partner. He confirmed Mongolia's intention to develop bilateral relations to the level of comprehensive partnership.
Additionally, he noted that English is the main foreign language in Mongolia's education system. Zandanshatar expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation in education, including scholarships, joint research, and student exchange programs.
He also mentioned 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, emphasizing that international cooperation on the agenda and outcomes of the conference will contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and combating environmental degradation.
Sima Malhotra expressed her appreciation to the Prime Minister for his warm welcome and emphasized that there are many opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as mining, energy, and public transport.
She specifically noted that the UK is interested in establishing cooperation with Mongolia in the field of rare earth elements and renewable energy. She also highlighted that ongoing discussions regarding the construction of a subway in Ulaanbaatar are of great significance for strengthening bilateral relations and creating an economically sustainable partnership.
