Mongolia – Australia Relations

Political relations:

Mongolia and Australia established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1972. Mongolia opened its Embassy in Canberra in 2008, while the Australian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar was opened in 2015.

The two countries enjoy close, friendly, and active relations and develop the “Expanded Partnership”.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Australia D.Davaasuren presented his Letter of Credence to Governor-General of Australia David Hurley on November 30.

Ambassador of Australia to Mongolia Katie Smith presented her Letter of Credence to President of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh on June 28, 2022.

High level visit exchanges: 

From Mongolia to Australia

  • President P.Ochirbat (1997)
  • Speaker of the State Great Hural Ts.Nyamdorj (2007)
  • Speaker of the State Great Hural G.Zandanshatar (2020)
  • Prime Minister S.Batbold (2011)
  • Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan (2022)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs Ts.Gombosuren (1993)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs L.Bold (2014)

From Australia to Mongolia

  • Governor-General, the Hon William Hayden (1994)
  • Speaker of the House of Representative, the Hon David Hawker (2005)
  • Speaker of the House of Representative, the Hon Harry Jenkins (2011)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Alexander Downer (2007)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Bob Carr (2012)
  • Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (2018)

Parliamentary exchange:

Mongolia-Australia Friendship Group at the Mongolian Parliament was established in 2020. Chair of group is Kh.Bulgantuya and members are G.Amartuvshin, D.Batlut, Kh.Gankhuyag, G.Damdinnyam, Ts.Munkh-Orgil, Ts.Munkhtsetseg, Kh.Nyambaatar, Ts.Sandag-Ochir, Ts.Sergelen.

Australia-Mongolia Friendship Group currently has 37 Members of the Australian Parliament from both Houses. The chair of the Group is the Hon Tania Lawrence MP.

Bilateral dialogue mechanisms:

The 4th Senior Officials’ talks between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia were held in Canberra, Australia on 29 March 2022, and co-chaired by Mr N.Ankhbayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Mr Justin Hayhurst, Deputy Secretary of the Geostrategic Group of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.

The 7th Mongolia-Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in Ulaanbaatar on 9-13 September 2022, and co-chaired by Mr D.Gankhuyag, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia and H.E. Katie Smith, Ambassador of Australia to Mongolia.

Education and people-to-people links:

Since the transition of Mongolia to the democratic society and free market economy, Australia was at the front, extending their hand to help Mongolia, especially towards its capacity building. As of today, more than 650 Mongolians obtained quality education in Australia through the “Australia Awards” scholarship scheme. The vibrant Australian alumni network in Mongolia fondly refers themselves as the “Mozzies”. Many Australian students from the Australian National University, University of Wollongong, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, and other universities are taking short and long-term courses in Mongolia through the New Colombo Plan. According to the statistics, more than half of the 6,500 Mongolian community in Australia are students.

Australian Volunteers Programme has a long history in Mongolia. Since 1998 over 300 volunteers have mobilized through the program. Every year the AVP supports the deployment of around 30 skilled Australians to undertake volunteer assignments aimed at improving the capacity of partner organisations in sectors of high priority to Australian and Mongolian governments. These volunteers also promote positive people-to-people links between individuals, organisations and communities in Mongolia and in Australia.

Mining and Resources:

The Government of Mongolia in collaboration with the Government of Australia is implementing an “Australia Mongolia Extractive Program”. The first phase of AMEP, which was carried out in 2015-2019, completed a number of projects with a budget of 3.5 million dollars.  The key outcomes of the first phase were the establishment of Mongolia’s geological cataloguing system and the development of a strategy for the gold sector. The second phase of AMEP, which is being implemented between 2019-2024, aims at improving the investment environment in the mining sector of Mongolia. The total funding of the AMEP 2 is 8.5 million dollars.

Agriculture:

The first ever joint agricultural project aimed to improve grassland management practices and livestock system in Mongolia was successfully implemented from September 2015 to December 2020. It was funded by the Australian Government and implemented by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The total budget of the joint project, which covered the territories of Mongolia and northern China, accounted for 1.8 million dollars. More joint projects are being discussed with ACIAR and other relevant research organizations.

Trade:

The bilateral trade turnover in the first 10 months of 2022 amounted to $40.1 million.

Export:

  • $2.9 million 2015
  • $1.2 million 2016
  • $3.4 million 2017
  • $1.27 million 2018
  • $39.6 million 2019
  • $1.08 million 2020
  • $673 thousand 2021

Import:

  • $11.7 million 2015
  • $21.9 million 2016
  • $36.5 million 2017
  • $49.9 million 2018
  • $57.0 million 2019
  • $44.89 million 2020
  • $48.5 million 2021

By the initiative of the Embassy of Mongolia, the Australia-Mongolia Business Council was re-established on 2 November 2022 to support trade and investment initiatives aimed at expanding economic ties between the two countries. The first meeting of the Business Council was successfully organised on 2 November 2022 in Sydney during the visit of the Minister for Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia Mr J.Ganbaatar to Australia. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade as well as more than 30 Australian businesses. The second meeting is planned to be held in the second quarter of 2023.

Defence:

Mongolia and Australia cooperate closely on global and regional issues including in defence and security. Contributing to international peacekeeping and security has been a vital focus of our collaboration. Mongolians and Australians have served together in many UN Peacekeeping Operations in South Sudan, Kosovo and Sierra Leone, also jointly deployed on coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Australia is also a regular participant in the annual Khaan Quest peacekeeping exercises hosted by Mongolia. The 7th Mongolia-Australia Defence Policy Talks were held in Ulaanbaatar on 9-13 September 2022 and co-chaired by Mr D.Gankhuyag, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia and H.E. Katie Smith, Ambassador of Australia to Mongolia.

Mongol studies: In 2011, a Mongolian studies center was established at the Australian National University. In 2012, it was upgraded into the Mongolian Institute. The Institute is making significant contribution towards Mongolian studies in Australia. The institute organises the conferences on Mongolian studies as well as the “Mongolia updates” annually. Also, the Institute provides Mongolian language short training course at the beginning of each year. The Government of Mongolia provides small financial support towards Mongolian studies in Australia. World-renowned scholar Prof Igor de Rachewiltz, an emeritus Fellow at the ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific, works closely with Mongolia Institute.

Tourism:

The long-awaited and highly anticipated Memorandum of Understanding on “Work and Holiday” visa arrangement was signed on 31 March 2022 by Mr N.Ankhbayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Hon Alex Hawke MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs. It went into effect on 1 July 2022, allowing 100 young Mongolian and 100 young Australians each year to enjoy a 12-month holiday in each other’s country, during which they may undertake short-term work and study. Also, with the introduction of electronic visa system this year, Australians now can apply for their visas online

 Inter-Governmental bilateral documents

A Memorandum of Understanding on vocational education cooperation aimed at helping Mongolia build the capacity of its mining workforce, encouraging the exchange of vocational education students and staff, and encouraging the exchange of information on education systems, qualifications and recognition processes between vocational education institutes and universities (signed in 2011),

Memorandum of Understanding on the Provision of consular services (signed in 2014),

Sister city relationships

Queensland’s Gold Coast and Ulaanbaatar have Sister City relationships since 1994

 Ambassadors:

Ambassador of Mongolia to Australia

2021 Davaasuren Damdinsuren

2015 Chuluunhuu Batlai

2012 Bold Ravdan

2008 Jambaldorj Tserendorj

Ambassadors of Mongolia accredited to Australia from Beijing, People’s Republic of China

2006 G.Batsukh

2003 L.Amarsanaa

1992 Kh.Olzvoi

1989 Yo.Ochir

 

Ambassadors accredited to Mongolia from Moscow, Former Soviet Union
1973 Lawrence J.Lawrey
1974 Sir James Plimsoll, CBE
1977 Murra G.M. Bourchier
1981 David W.Evans
1984 Edward R.Pocock
1987 C.Robin Ashwin
1991 Cavan O.F. Hogue
Ambassadors accredited to Mongolia from Beijing, People’s Republic of China
1992 Michael D.Lightowler
1996 Richard C.Smith
2000 David T.Irvine
2003 Dr Alan W.Thomas
2007 Dr Geoff Raby
2008 Peter Rowe
Ambassadors accredited to Mongolia from Seoul, Republic of Korea
20092013 Sam R.Gerovich

Mr Bill Paterson PSM