The 2012 Khaan Quest military exercises between the US and Mongolia are to begin at a military training base near the Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator.

India and South Korea will also take part., while China and Russia have been invited as observers. Besides the annual Khaan Quest, cooperation between Washington and Ulan Bator is developing rapidly.

In May, Mongolia attended the NATO summit in Chicago as a partner state. Last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Mongolia, again stressing its vital strategic position for the US.