The Mongolian ambassador to the United States, H.E. R. Bold, will be visiting the Bozeman and Butte areas from June 20 to 23. Ambassador Bold has been Mongolia's representative to the US since 2003.
A reception is planned for Thursday, June 22, at the Museum of the Rockies.
Few Americans are aware that Mongolia, in 1991, made a peaceful transition from Communism to a democratic (parliamentary) form of government and free markets. Fewer still know that Mongolia has troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a partner in the war on terror. And last month the U.S. Congress passed a resolution affirming the United States as the "third neighbor" to Mongolia, as a counterbalance to China and Russia.
Working with the office of Sen. Conrad Burns and Kent Madin, a Bozeman businessman with links to Mongolia, the Ambassador has a busy schedule of meetings with civic, academic and cultural institutions. The similarities in terms of landscape, climate, agriculture, wildlife, mining, timber, high tech industries and rangeland issues make the development of strong mutual ties a natural choice for both Mongolia and Montana.
One of the Ambassador's first meetings will be with Bozeman city officials to discuss establishment of a sister city relationship between Bozeman and Muren, in Khovsgol aimag. The greater Bozeman area already has four groups working in the Khovsgol area; Boojum Expeditions, Montana State University's BioRegions program, Sweetwater Travel and The Tributary Fund.
The Ambassador will meet with Butte and Bozeman Chambers of Commerce and will tour Montana Tech in Butte and the Tech Ranch in Bozeman and the Burns Technology Center. On his way to Butte, he'll meet with Wheat Montana. For information call 587-0125.