The Philadelphia Orchestra will make its debut in Mongolia next June as part of its periodic Far East tours. The visit is said to be the largest nonpolitical United States delegation to the capital Ulaanbaatar over the last 30 years, and is part of an endeavor on both sides to cultivate a stronger diplomatic bond between the countries.

Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, who visited Mongolia in 1990 and 1991, coined the expression "third neighbor" in reference to the U.S.- Mongolia bond – in contrast to China and Russia, which border the country. Mongolia has a rich cultural heritage and great economic potential, and both sides are eager to get closer – with the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts being the catalyst.

Currently in the United States for the U.N. General Assembly, President Elbegdorj arrived in Philadelphia for a morning ceremony at City Hall, a luncheon in his honor at the Kimmel Center, a 2 p.m. concert by the orchestra, and a lecture at the American Center for Mongolian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

The June concert "shows how far our relationship between our two nations had come, that it's not just between the presidents and the government," he said outside City Hall. "This is cultural exchange, and that's important. We have a great cultural heritage. And the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the famous cultural messengers in the world."

He acknowledged that he had never heard the orchestra live, though at the afternoon concert, the first notes from the Fabulous Philadelphians were from his own national anthem – "Mongol Ulsyn Töriin Duulal" – as conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

"This is a very big deal for diplomatic relations with Mongolia," Debra Lo, foreign service officer at the U.S Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "Secretary of State John Kerry was just in Mongolia in June, and was the first secretary of state to visit Mongolia in a very long time. The country is strategically positioned and an ally of the U.S. They like us. They want to improve relations in every respect."

(philly.com)