Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh Before Their Meeting

FOREIGN MINISTER BATTSETSEG:  Secretary Blinken, welcome to Mongolia.  So dear Mr. Secretary, it’s my great pleasure to greet you (inaudible) in Ulaanbaatar.  Very unique visit, I think, because we met last week —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right.

FOREIGN MINISTER BATTSETSEG:  — in USA.  So we have (inaudible) visit (inaudible) realize this short time and (inaudible) appointed as the foreign minister.  Thank you, Minister, and welcome you and your team to Mongolia.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you so much.  It’s wonderful for me to be back here.  I was here with President Biden when he was vice president, and have very strong memories of that visit, but I was eager to come myself.  And as you said, it follows our meeting just a week ago or so in Washington, and I think that of itself is evidence of the vitality of the relationship, the partnership, all that we’re doing together.  I know we’ll have a chance to talk about that later, but I’m thrilled to be here.  And thank you for the warm hospitality.