DG Azevêdo said:

"I am honoured to welcome President Khaltmaa to the WTO. Mongolia plays an active role in the activities of the organization and has long been a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system. As a landlocked country, it faces particular challenges in participating in global trade. Today's meeting was a good opportunity to discuss how the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement can help to address these challenges and to assist Mongolia in reaping the full benefits of trade.

"We will continue to support Mongolia to integrate further into the global economy, including by continuing to deliver capacity building support. I also encourage the Mongolian government to play an active role in ongoing discussions on strengthening the WTO, particularly in the context of the rising trade tensions which are on all of our minds today. I look forward to continuing to work with President Khaltmaa and the government of Mongolia in advancing the work of the WTO and in furthering the country's growth and development efforts."