Mongolian delegates headed by Deputy Prime Minister M.Enkhbold visited Australia as part of a UNICEF program from October 28 to November 3.

Accompanied M.Enkhbold were Head of Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science D.Ochirbat; MP Ts.Dashdorj; Chief of Office for Children D.Altai; Secretary State of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor U.Byambasuren; Deputy Chief of the National Emergency General Board D.Namsrai; Advisor of the Deputy Prime Minister B.Javsankhuu; and other officials.

The visit was aimed to study children’s rights and the social security structure of Australia. The delegates visited the Ministries of Family, House, Social Service and Aborigines and of Human Service, the Statistics Bureau, the Emergency Commission, the Children’s Organization of New South Wales and the capital Melbourne, and the UNICEF mission in Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister M.Enkhbold met with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, Human Service and Social Inclusion Minister Tanya Plibersek, MP and head of the parliamentary group of Australia and Mongolia Kirsten Livermor, and Director General of International Development Agency Peter Bakster to discuss mutual cooperation.

M.Enkhbold requested Mongolia’s participation in the “Mining for Development” initiative of the Australian Government during a meeting with the head of the parliamentary group of Australia and Mongolia Kirsten Livermor and Director General of International Development Agency Peter Bakster. The initiative is designed to help developing countries responsibly exploit natural resources. The USD120 million program will be implemented in 30 countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and Latin America.

The Australians accepted the request and viewed that Mongolia could be involved in the program considering the intensive development of its mining sector. Australian Embassy to Mongolia will work on the program, the officials agreed.