US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VISITS

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The United States Secretary of Defense Mr Chuck Hagel paid an official visit to Mongolia on Thursday by invitation of D.Bat-Erdene, the Minister of Defense. The Defense Minister D.Bat-Erdene and the US Secretary of Defense Mr Hagel held official talks and signed a joint statement on directions and goals of the bilateral security cooperation between the two countries. During meeting with the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Mr Hagel passed to him the greetings the US President Barack Obama sends to Mongolia's leader Ts.Elbegdorj. He also expressed a satisfaction with a present situation of the bilateral cooperation in the defense, including the peacekeeping operations.