U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is on his way to Beijing after a visit to Mongolia, a rare destination in his globe-trotting career, and his first trip to the landlocked country as the top U.S. diplomat. 


Kerry described Mongolia Sunday as "an oasis of democracy." The country is surrounded by the single-party dominated governments of Russia and China. 


In 1987, the United States established diplomatic relations with Mongolia, best known as the birthplace of the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. 


Washington has been supporting political and economic development of Mongolia, which also maintains good relations with its giant neighbors. 


However, some democracy and human rights issues in Mongolia are now being questioned. 


A U.S. State Department report on human rights in Mongolia points at "vague laws and a lack of transparency in legislative, executive, and judicial processes" that "undermined government efficiency and public confidence and invited corruption." 


Kerry launched a new USAID project while in Mongolia to “increase both citizen engagement in the democratic political process, and also to enhance good governance in Mongolia,” according to the State Department.-

Source: NNA