Foreign relations of Mongolia 151775 221104311 2008-06-23T01:58:20Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Politics of Mongolia}} In the wake of the former [[Soviet Union]]'s economic collapse, [[Mongolia]] began to pursue an independent and nonaligned [[foreign policy]]. The [[Prime Minister of Mongolia|Prime Minister]] called for coexistence with all nations, and Mongolia follows a general policy of expanding relations with as many countries as possible. Due to Mongolia's landlocked position between the [[Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union|Newly Independent States]] (NIS) of the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[People's Republic of China]], it was essential to continue and improve relations with these countries. At the same time, Mongolia is reaching out to advance its regional and global relations. As part of its aim to establish a more balanced nonaligned foreign policy, Mongolia is seeking active supporters and friends beyond its neighbours and looking to take a more active role in the [[United Nations]] and other international organisations. It has begun a [[Mongolian Nuclear-Weapons-Free Status|drive for international recognition]] of a one state [[Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone]]. While it is downgrading relations with most of its former east European allies, it is pursuing a more active role in Asian and northeast Asian affairs. Mongolia is seeking to join [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|APEC]] and became a full participant in the [[ASEAN Regional Forum]] (ARF) in July 1998. Mongolia became a full member of the [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]] in April 2000. Mongolian relations with the PRC began to improve in the mid-1980s when consular agreements were reached and crossborder trade contacts expanded. In 1989, the People's Republic of China and Mongolia exchanged visits of foreign ministers. In May 1990, a Mongolian head of state visited China for the first time in 28 years. The cornerstone of the Mongolian-Chinese relationship is a 1994 [[Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation]], which codifies mutual respect for the independence and territorial integrity of both sides. The two foreign ministers exchanged visits in 1997, as did the leaders of the two countries' parliaments. President [[Jiang Zemin]] visited Mongolia in July 1999. Mongolia is expanding relations with the nearby rich nations of [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]]. Its Prime Minister visited Japan in March 1990 and Prime Minister Obuchi reciprocated with a visit to Mongolia in July 1999. Japan has provided more than $100 million in grants and loans since 1991 and coordinated international assistance to Mongolia. Japan is Mongolia's largest bilateral aid donor. Diplomatic relations were established with South Korea in 1991, and during the Mongolian President's visit, seven agreements and treaties were signed, providing the legal basis for further expanding bilateral relations.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} However, the increasing closeness with South Korea caused problems in [[North Korea-Mongolia relations]], culminating in 1999 when North Korea closed their embassy in [[Ulan Bator]], allegedly in response to the state visit by then [[President of South Korea|South Korean president]] [[Kim Dae-jung]].<ref name="UBPost">{{cite news|url=http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/446/37/|title=North Korean Kim visits Mongolia|date=[[20 July]] [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=The UB Post|last=Ch.|first=Sumiyabazar}}</ref> In 2001 President Bagabandi made state visits to [[India]] and [[Nepal]]. After the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Mongolia developed relations with the new independent states. Links with [[Russia]] and other republics were essential to contribute to stabilisation of the Mongolian economy. The primary difficulties in developing fruitful coordination occurred because the NIS were experiencing the same political and economic restructuring as Mongolia. Despite these difficulties, Mongolia and Russia successfully negotiated both a 1991 Joint Declaration of Cooperation and a bilateral trade agreement. This was followed by a 1993 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation establishing a new basis of equality in the relationship. Mongolian President Bagabandi visited [[Moscow]] in 1999, and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] visited Mongolia in 2000 in order to sign the 25-point Ulaanbaatar Declaration, reaffirming Mongol-Russian friendship and cooperation on numerous economic and political issues. Mongolia seeks closer relations with countries in [[Europe]] and hopes to receive most-favoured-nation status from the [[European Union]] (EU). During 1991, Mongolia signed investment promotion and protection agreements with [[Germany]] and [[France]] and an economic cooperation agreement with the [[United Kingdom]]. Germany continued former East German cooperative programs and also provided loans and aid. The Prime Minister has travelled to Germany, France, [[Belgium]], and EU headquarters in [[Brussels]] seeking economic cooperation. President Bagabandi visited several European capitals in 1999-2000.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} In 2004 he became the first Mongolian President to pay a state visit to [[Canada]], some 30 years after the two countries established formal diplomatic relations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=archivemartin&Sub=newscommuniques&Doc=news_release_20041019_289_e.htm|publisher=Government of Canada Privy Council Office|date=[[19 October]] [[2004]]|accessdate=2007-08-22|title=President of Mongolia to visit Canada}}</ref> Mongolia has a modest number of [[Mongolian diplomatic missions|missions abroad]]. '''International organisation participation:''' [[Asian Development Bank|AsDB]], [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations|ASEAN]] (observer), [[ASEM]], [[Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific|ESCAP]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Criminal Court|ICCt]], [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions|ICFTU]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Health Organisation|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Tourism Organization|WToO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTrO]], [[SCO]] (observer) Mongolia did not join the UN until 1961 because repeated threats to veto by the [[Republic of China]], who considered Mongolia to be part of its territory (see [[China and the United Nations]]). The [[Republic of China]] (currently on [[Taiwan]]) has not renounced claim to Mongolia as one of its provinces, primarily out of concern that such a move would be viewed as a precursor to renouncing soveregnty over all of Mainland China and [[Taiwan independence]]. In 2002 several ROC officials and government agencies passed laws and made strong statements recognising Mongolia’s sovereignty over the area (unofficially). Outer Mongolia was removed from the ROC's official maps and a representative office was established in Ulan Bator. Mongolia has threatened to severe ties with [[Malaysia]] if the controversial trial of its murdered citizen [[Altantuya]] is not conducted in a fair and responsible manner. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/81895|publisher=MalaysiaKini|date=[[24 Apr]] [[2008]]|accessdate=2008-04-30|title=Altantuya's father storms out of press conference}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.mongolia-foreign-policy.net Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia] *[http://www.un.int/mongolia Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations] *[http://ulaanbaatar.usembassy.gov United States Embassy in Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia] *[http://www.mongolembassy.org Embassy of Mongolia in Ottawa, Canada] *[http://consulbg.eu/ Bulgarian Council in Mongolia official website] {{Asia in topic|Foreign relations of}} [[Category:Politics of Mongolia]] [[Category:Foreign relations of Mongolia| ]] [[mn:Монгол Улсын олон улсын харилцаа]] [[ja:モンゴル国の国際関係]]