Today, I was pleased to meet with Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency S. Amarsaikhan, as Mongolia and Australia prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Our business, educational, and people-to-people ties have grown year-on-year since we officially established relations on 15 September 1972.

Mongolia’s 2007 decision to designate Australia a ‘third neighbour’ was a significant milestone for our relations, which has been reinforced by the opening of the Mongolian Embassy in Canberra in 2008, and the Australian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 2015.

Australia has supported more than 650 Mongolians to study under Australia Awards – many rising to leadership positions – which has strengthened our people-to-people ties.

I am hopeful that reciprocal Work and Holiday Maker visas, established this year, will build on these links.

In our meeting today, His Excellency S. Amarsaikhan and I agreed that we look forward to supporting the Australia-Mongolia relationship to grow even stronger in the years ahead.

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Authorised by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia.