Biden in Mongolia

Biden praised Mongolia's ties with the United States during his trip to the country on Monday. The US vice president met Mongolian President Tsakhai Elbegdorj in a ger, or traditional Mongolian tent. After the meeting, Biden said, "today, Mongolia is not just a shining example for other nations in transition, but it's an emerging leader in the worldwide democratic movement."

Biden also praised the country for its candid policy towards its neighbors and in the international arena, calling it "a responsible actor on the world stage, and a close friend and partner of the United States," adding, "none of that is an exaggeration." He also attended a demonstration of traditional Mongolian sports including archery, wrestling and horse racing.

'Substantial contributions'

In a statement released prior to his departure to Mongolia, the White House said Biden planned to "underscore…support for Mongolia's two decades of democratic development and our growing economic ties." The White House added, "on the defense and security side, Mongolia is making substantial contributions of troops to the operations both in Iraq and Afghanistan. So there is a lot of good work and a lot to talk about." Mongolia has recently sought closer ties with the US and has sent troops to assist in NATO operations.

In June this year, President Elbegdorj met with President Obama and promised to give US companies a role in its booming energy sector. In July, the US mining company Peabody Energy said it would be a partner in developing a section of Mongolia's coveted Tavan Tolgoi coal mine in the Gobi desert. The Tavan Tolgoi is the world's largest coal mine with 6.4 billion tons of reserves.

Asia tour

Biden's next stop is Tokyo, where he is expected to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program. He is also likely to emphasize US efforts to rebuild following the earthquake and tsunami which hit the country in March this year.

The first five days of Biden’s 10-day trip were spent in China where he sought to assure Beijing, the largest foreign holder of US debt, that the US would not default. Premier Wen Jiabao lauded Biden's efforts, saying his "clear message" had served to boost investor confidence in the US.

Author: Manasi Gopalakrishnan (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Sarah Berning