On a recent visit to China, Luvsanvandan Bold, Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, commented that developing relations with China is a priority in Mongolia’s foreign policy. The minister has made many visits to other countries in recent months, including India and Japan, to express Mongolia’s commitment to establishing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation with partners worldwide.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements Mongolia’s foreign policy based on its national interests as defined in its Constitution, National Security and Foreign Policy Concepts; the country’s external and internal situation constitutes the basis for determining its foreign policy objectives, principles and priorities.
Mongolia’s foreign policy objectives reside in ensuring its independence and sovereignty by maintaining friendly relations with all countries in the world, developing relations and cooperation in political, economic and other areas, strengthening its position in the international community and accelerating development and progress. Mongolia pursues a peace-loving, open, independent and multi-pillar foreign policy.
In developing its relations with other countries, Mongolia is guided by universally recognized principles and norms of international law as defined in the Charter of the United Nations, including mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unviolability of frontiers, non-interference in internal affairs, settlement of disputes by peaceful means, respect for human rights and freedoms, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation as well as other principles defined in the basic documents governing the bilateral relations with other countries.
The foreign policy of Mongolia aims at the protection of interests and rights of its citizens residing abroad, promotion of the country abroad and public relations policy.
A priority for the Mongolia’s foreign policy is to maintain friendly relations with Mongolia’s neighbours, Russia and China, treating both equally. Meanwhile, Mongolia pursues a “Third Neighbor“ policy which means a group of Western and Eastern democracies and international organizations, Mongolia’s partners in a broader sense which support democratic nation-building and have vested interests in Mongolia. So, the “third neighbor” policy is aimed at developing of friendly relations and cooperation with global and regional influential states as well as the countries supporting Mongolia’s democracy and reforms such as the United States, Japan, the European Union, India, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey.
Furthermore, Mongolia is aiming to develop close cooperation with the EU and its member states. Today the EU is Mongolia’s 3rd largest foreign trade partner after the two immediate neighbours, and the largest investor. The signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Mongolia and EU witnesses a shared commitment to further develop our bilateral ties. Mongolia attaches great importance to OSCE and its membership of the organization as one of the realization of Mongolia’s “third neighbor” foreign policy.
Strengthening role in the region and beyond
As part of its drive to enhance Mongolia’s economic and political role in North-East and Central Asia, the ministry is working to achieve Mongolia’s membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC).
Mongolia has a vested interest in taking a constructive part in integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region. Mongolia is currently a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Our regional agenda is centred on becoming a dialogue partner of ASEAn and joining the East Asia Summit process.
