On September 26th, President of Mongolia Ts. Elbegdorj participated and delivered a speech in the High-Level Side Event on the occasion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 entitled "Engaging people for sustainable development: Accountability, transparency and participation" which was co-organized by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Mongolia, Switzerland, and Botswana.

During the roundtable discussion President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj noted that "15 years ago world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Mongolia at the national level adopted and successfully implemented an additional MDG Goal 9 on human rights and democracy. Compared to the MDGs which were mainly targeting social issues of development, the new sustainable development agenda fully reflects 3 pillars of sustainable development namely economic growth, inclusive social development and environmental sustainability. He also highlighted "As a truly transformative sustainable development agenda of the global nature, that can bring real change, the success of the Sustainable Development Goals will greatly depend on the active engagement and initiatives of civil societies, non-governmental organizations and citizens".

Mongolia will take up the chairmanship of International IDEA's Council of Member States in 2016. "Mongolia will work actively and take every effort for the successful chairmanship" he added. 

The speakers and participants of high-level event were H.E. Ms. Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Mr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr. Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UNDESA), Mr. Yves Leterme, Secretary-General of the International IDEA.