Mongolian Parliament's Ongoing Review of Draft Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement to Continue as a Priority in April Spring Session

Statement by John Macken, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN)(NYSE: IVN)(NASDAQ: IVN) welcomes the assurance given today by Mongolia's national Parliament, the State Great Khural, that completion of an Investment Agreement for the development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mining complex will continue to be a principal priority for Mongolia's coalition government when the Parliament reconvenes during the first week of April in its 2009 spring session.

A statement issued today by the State Great Khural press office confirmed that the discussion of the draft Oyu Tolgoi agreement that began this week would resume when Parliament returns for the spring session.

The statement added: "We will place the review at the top of the government's action agenda to help ensure that new investment is directed to Mongolia and new jobs are created for Mongolians to help our economy weather the present international financial crisis.

"The coalition government believes that the draft agreement represents a significant step forward in the development of Mongolia's mineral wealth to benefit present and future generations of Mongolians, and the nation."

The State Great Khural press statement noted that the Standing Committee on Economics had made significant progress in discussing the agreement this week and that Members of Parliament had requested that a small number of points be reviewed. A Working Group formed to address the issues will continue its review during the break between the extraordinary winter session of Parliament, which ended today, and the beginning of the regular spring session of Parliament in early April.

Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto will continue their cooperation with the Working Group during the short parliamentary recess to prepare additional information to facilitate an early approval by the Parliament.

Following the completion of negotiations earlier this month, each page of the draft Investment Agreement was initialled by representatives of the Mongolian Cabinet and of Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia before the document was presented to Parliament as part of the final approval process.

Ivanhoe Mines shares are listed on the Toronto, New York and NASDAQ stock exchanges under the symbol IVN.

Contacts: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Bill Trenaman Investor Relations (604) 688-5755 Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Bob Williamson Media (604) 688-5755 Website: www.ivanhoemines.com

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.

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