Interview With UK Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth

In commemoration of Mongolia and the UK’s sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations, The Diplomat’s Bolor Lkhaajav spoke with U.Okay. Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth. Blyth mentioned Mongolia-U.Okay. diplomatic relations, in addition to Britain’s contribution in strengthening Mongolia’s democracy, governance, and civil society. She additionally emphasised the U.Okay.’s robust assist for Mongolia’s ladies, peace, and safety agenda and the momentum for vitality transition. 

This yr marks the sixtieth anniversary of Mongolia-U.Okay. diplomatic engagement. As a newly appointed ambassador, how do you foresee the subsequent chapter of the bilateral relations? Additionally, the place does Mongolia stand by way of the U.Okay.’s Indo-Pacific Technique? 

First, it’s an unimaginable privilege to be appointed as ambassador to Mongolia this yr. It is a vital yr for our bilateral relationship, and it’s a yr that we’re reflecting on our historical past collectively. For me, as an envoy, it’s pure that I’ll look to the long run, to develop our trendy partnership for the subsequent chapter.

I believe the connection has moved a great distance within the final 60 years, and that there’s a ahead momentum to our partnership. Throughout this era, we’ve grown nearer collectively by way of our shared values in open economies, democratic values, upholding human rights, and – at massive – how we have interaction the world in a variety of overseas coverage relationships. I believe these are a very robust foundation for our partnership for the subsequent chapter. I actually hope that we will proceed to maneuver nearer collectively.

The Indo-Pacific technique is an thrilling space of the U.Okay.’s overseas coverage. You’re proper that quite a few different international locations have additionally acknowledged the potential of the area and are doing much more there. Geographically, Mongolia has a foot in quite a few areas. And I believe that that’s a profit. Mongolia has synergies with Central Asia and loads of hyperlinks in Northeast Asia. And there’s a lot that’s within the Indo-Pacific area that additionally applies to Mongolia. 

The U.Okay.’s technique helps an open, steady, and peaceable area. All these targets can apply to Mongolia. The U.Okay. will assist Mongolia’s open strategy to overseas relations and its economic system. We’d assist Mongolia to keep up that stability and to proceed to navigate by an more and more contested world. Mongolia has centuries of expertise of navigating nice energy competitors. I believe there’s a lot to study from Mongolia. We would like the world and the area to be peaceable. 

Mongolia has proven unimaginable management throughout an entire vary of points. We will point out biodiversity, local weather points, feminist overseas coverage, peacekeeping contributions, and tradition. I believe all these areas present Mongolia’s pure management. And if the U.Okay. can assist Mongolia to take its place on the worldwide stage, then improbable. 

What are a number of the U.Okay. actions in Mongolia that assist strengthening the nation’s democracy, parliamentary governance, and civil society? 

The U.Okay. is likely one of the world’s oldest democracies, and it has loads of expertise in navigating parliamentary process and a democracy that’s ever evolving. You most likely know that we don’t have a written structure within the U.Okay. It’s all completed on precedent. So, our democracy has advanced over the centuries. Mongolia can be evolving. It’s solely been 30 years. There’s a lot that’s been achieved. 

The U.Okay. and Mongolia arrange quite a few exchanges between our parliaments but additionally parliamentary officers. However this isn’t to say that Mongolia has to do it our method, both. It’s extra [a case] of sharing expertise and what has labored for the U.Okay. These exchanges, in return, assist Mongolia’s democratic evolution, which may strengthen the Mongolian parliament to determine how they’ll make the establishment work to the good thing about the Mongolian folks. We assist the methods during which the parliament can create the procedures and the processes and put in place the entire completely different checks and balances. 

In civil society, engagement with the voters is a very essential a part of democracy. Democracy is an ongoing dialogue between the voters and their representatives. Thus, civil society engagement is an space that is essential to the U.Okay. 

Since arriving right here, I’ve been attending to know the civil society panorama in Mongolia, assembly completely different folks, and listening to completely different views. However in 2024, we are going to set up a bit extra systemic engagement by a discussion board or mechanism that gives recommendation, suggestions, and views. 

Ulaanbaatar’s air air pollution has grow to be a serious public well being concern. The rise of respiratory ailments, and mind tumors are simply two examples. London within the Fifties-60s skilled the “The Nice Smog.” What possible classes can Mongolia study from it? 

As a result of I simply returned from London, I haven’t fairly felt the air air pollution simply but. There isn’t a arguing that the earthly inhabitants must deal with air air pollution and local weather change. Within the Nineteen Sixties, we eradicated coal-fired energy stations within the metropolis’s middle. 

For Ulaanbaatar, this can be a enormous problem. Not solely is it the coldest capital on this planet, however you even have coal-fired energy stations that present not solely electrical energy but additionally heating. The grid itself – look how a lot work it must be completed. The distances you’re making an attempt to cowl – I’m not making an attempt to reduce this. 

On the similar time, I consider that that is the time to transition. There’s a lot assist obtainable to international locations that wish to transition their vitality. It doesn’t even need to be British experience. There’s a lot international experience and data proper now. These coal-fired energy stations will not be going to final ceaselessly however are going to grow to be more and more costly to keep up, each for the planet and in precise fiscal phrases. Why not get out forward of it and seize the second when there’s a lot international assist obtainable? This is able to be an enormous win for Mongolia and its inhabitants. 

What are a number of the renewable vitality investments of the U.Okay. in Mongolia proper now? Your predecessor, Ambassador Philip Malone, talked about the authorized surroundings and transparency as challenges for U.Okay. buyers. Has this modified in any respect?

The U.Okay. has made some small investments in photo voltaic crops in Gobi. I’d wish to level out that the vitality transition would require dedication from each authorities and the non-public sector. Mongolia has monumental potential for renewable vitality; the wind hall, sunshine, and hydro capability are there. We have to have a political local weather and regulatory system the place corporations are invited and really feel protected to put money into Mongolia. 

The query is how we get them right here to take a position and produce their trendy applied sciences. The U.Okay. can supply particular experience resembling battery storage. We’ve obtained the analysis design and innovation expertise that will be nice to share with Mongolia. As soon as the federal government has set the coverage route and desires to ask companies, Mongolia would be the funding vacation spot. 

By way of funding challenges, there was some progress, such because the funding regulation making its method by the parliament, and there have been quite a few transparency initiatives, together with the revised mining regulation. Newer mechanisms resembling on-line tenders and digital providers are essential steps in direction of transparency. However there’s completely little question that these are points that the federal government wants to handle. 

One other concern is dispute decision. Contracts don’t at all times go properly. Tasks don’t at all times work out. We’d like to have the ability to create an area for corporations to return and check out, to take new and daring steps; with the data and confidence that if sure issues don’t work out, they may be capable to have a good listening to and be capable to defend their buyers. Many of the concern pertains to the reassurance course of, rules, and the concern of sudden adjustments in laws. Firms want consistency to mission ahead and set investments. 

On the purpose about Mongolian companies within the U.Okay., whereas cashmere generally is a main market, fintech is one space that I’m excited to construct. London is a serious monetary hub, and our collaboration in fintech focuses on “borderless exports.” We’re working with a few corporations to maneuver their operation to the U.Okay. I’m very enthusiastic about it and hope to see extra of that trigger. This is able to be an ideal space of contemporary partnership for us.

Mongolia has been actively pursuing feminist overseas coverage, which incorporates ladies, peace, and safety agendas. As a British Military officer, how do you see the 2 international locations’ protection relations evolving within the subsequent decade? Through which areas the 2 governments want to collaborate?

Girls, peace, and safety are issues I care deeply about. I used to be actually excited that we had the first go to of James Heappey, the U.Okay. protection minister, in September. He introduced the enlargement of the Royal Faculty of Protection Research to incorporate Mongolian cadets on the Royal Army Academy Heart. Furthermore, the U.Okay., being a member of the United Nations Safety Council, we’re very respectful of Mongolia’s monumental contribution to international peace and safety. The minister additionally talked about the U.Okay.’s continued assist in coaching Mongolian forces in talent and language growth in order that Mongolia continues to broaden its position within the UN Peacekeeping operations world wide. 

Given the magnitude of occasions world wide at present, what do you suppose Mongolia’s greatest problem is for the subsequent decade? 

I believe the largest problem for Mongolia is to remain true to its values. Mongolia took a daring step in 1990 to set out the sort of nation that it needs to be, and that may be a alternative just for Mongolia. It’s not a alternative for the U.Okay. It’s not a alternative for different third neighbors or Mongolia’s everlasting neighbors. It’s a alternative for Mongolia to remain true to these values, staying clear and conserving a really clear sense of permitting Mongolia to make its personal selections and defending these selections. 

Contemplating present occasions world wide, I believe it’s going to be an more and more difficult, contested world. Mongolia must be away from what’s its nationwide curiosity and defend its rights, make its personal selections, and never be pushed round by anybody.

Throughout your time as ambassador, is there a mission near your coronary heart that you just’d wish to get completed? 

I’ve an extended listing of issues that I hope to attain, however what’s inspiring for me as an envoy is to see how [the Mongolian] overseas minister has championed feminine international management. We will see it throughout quite a few realms; the Feminine International Ministers’ Assembly in Ulaanbaatar is only one instance. 

Minister for Tradition Nomin Chinbat, too. She is somebody who’s doing an unimaginable job of positioning Mongolia on the worldwide stage. Mongolia’s outward-facing strategy goes past the realm of overseas coverage. It goes into schooling and tradition and shapes how the world views Mongolia. 

Throughout my time as an envoy, I actually hope that we will strengthen the Mongolia-U.Okay. partnership in schooling. I discover it very inspirational that the minister of schooling has set a transparent aim of closing the hole between rural and concrete schooling. He needs to broaden English language applications, elevate academics’ capacities, and create alternatives for modern-age studying with digital instruments. We are going to discover how we’re going to collaborate on that. 

Schooling is life-changing, particularly for these of us who don’t come from very rich backgrounds. It’s a method that we will advance on this planet, broaden our horizons, journey, and meet new folks. It opens so many doorways. The schooling sector is one thing that I’m deeply obsessed with, and I’m wanting ahead to placing numerous vitality into it throughout my time right here.

What’s one factor that stunned you about Mongolian society whenever you arrived right here? 

The factor that almost all stunned me was how fashion-forward and funky younger Mongolians have been. It’s not concerning the cash or a model both; it’s an ideal sense of fashion; they appear fairly put collectively and create a cool vibe. Additionally, I wasn’t anticipating so many cool venues for social occasions. The distinction between that sort of lovely, empty, undisturbed nation and a really enjoyable, fashionable, forward-looking, cool society is actually superb.