US Defense Secretary to visit Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will travel to the Asia-Pacific region for visits with his counterparts in Mongolia, Japan and China next week, Defense Department Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a press briefing Thursday. The trip will be Hagel’s fourth official visit to the Asia-Pacific, a region of growing importance and emphasis for U.S. foreign policy and its defense strategy, the press secretary said. According to news published at the official website of US Department of Defense, the visits will follow the first US-hosted meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. After Japan and China, Hagel’s final stop will be in Mongolia, the first visit there by a U.S. defense secretary in nearly 10 years. Mongolia is becoming a more important security partner for the United States, having deployed forces to Iraq and Afghanistan and in peacekeeping operations worldwide, Kirby said. During the visit, Mr Hagel will thank Mongolia for its contributions and discuss ways to enhance future U.S.-Mongolian cooperation. Kirby also said that, as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, Mongolia has a growing stake in stability across the Asia-Pacific region and he expects Mr Hagel and the leaders there also to discuss regional security matters.