Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh stated in an exclusive interview with Bangkok Post that the country hopes to develop stronger relationships with Thailand overall.
Ms Battsetseg, the second person to be appointed to the blog, is making an official attend to Thailand from now till next Wednesday.
In light of a slew of political difficulties, she described her life and career, how Mongolia is navigating problems, and how she sees strengthening ties with Thailand.
According to Ms. Battsetseg, she has always wanted to work as a minister. This led to her enrolling in the National University of Mongolia’s mentor program in international relationships.
After graduating, she established the” Mönkhyin üseg Group” and served as the head of its board of directors from 2007–2015. She continued to advise the finance secretary until 2016 in that capacity.
Before taking the position of foreign minister in January 2021, she served as the evil minister of international relations from 2016 to 2020.
” Over the years, I have gained experience working in diverse governmental agencies, [and ] holding different political jobs, many of which were closely tied to international relations and global teamwork,” she said.
Mongolia’s world watch
The country’s foreign policy was mapped out by the State Great Hural [Parliament ] of Mongolia in 2011 as it aimed to pursue a peace-oriented, open, independent and multi-pillared approach, Ms Battsetseg said.
With regard to other nations in the region, Ms. Battsetseg cited close relationships and socially beneficial cooperation with our two neighbors [ China and Russia], as well as maintaining a “balanced and good neighborly relationship with our two neighbors,” according to Ms. Battsetseg, who also mentioned close relationships and mutually beneficial cooperation with our second neighbors.
She stated that Mongolia is engaged in international politics and has diplomatic ties with all 192 UN member states, as well as the Holy See, the State of Palestine, and the European Union.
According to Ms. Battsetseg, Mongolia is committed to promoting peace and security both in the area and around the globe.
With its single-state nuclear-weapon-free area position, the government’s dedication to the non-proliferation of atomic weapons and achieving atomic peace has been extensively welcomed and supported by the global community, she said.
In 2013, the” Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security” program was established to handle the region’s safety issues. This community has now evolved into a popular method for governments, international organisations and education to participate, exchange views and, most important, to find common ground for probable solutions.
” Last time, we hosted the 8th period of the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue. More than 180 members, representing 30 states and over a hundred companies, attended the event. The” UBD Youth Forum,” which encouraged young experts to meet the speech, was a recent addition to the meeting, Ms. Battsetseg noted.
She said that the UN peace activities are one of the crucial means of maintaining international peace and security.
In the two years that Mongolia has participated in UN peacekeeping, over 20,000 Peoples have served as “blue hats” in 11 peacekeeping missions in hot patches around the world.
” Now, we are the 19th-largest contribution to UN security. In the Northeast and Central Asian area, we are the second-largest army source after China,” Ms Battsetseg said.
The Mongolian administration’s agenda includes promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls, especially those who live in remote regions. These initiatives have been taken to an international levels.
She noted that Mongolia has organized a number of activities to help achieve these objectives, including a global conference on expanding the role of women in peace in June 2022 and the meeting of feminine foreign ministers in June 2023.
” For this year, Ulaanbaatar will host the World Women’s Forum on August 22–23. The website will focus on the importance of women’s autonomy, gender equality, and their involvement and leadership in addressing environment change-related issues and the realization of the SDGs,” she said, referring to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
50 years of P2P exchanges
Ms. Battsetseg claimed that their first encounter can be traced back to a meeting of their envoys in the 13th or 14th century, despite Thailand and Mongolia officially establishing ties on March 5, 1974.
Despite their geographical dispersion, she claimed, the two sides were able to lay a strong foundation for the growth of ties by finding common ground in Buddhism as well as some aspects of their respective cultures and traditions.
Both nations have seen progress and success in various cooperating areas since Mongolia’s democratic reforms started in 1990.
People-to-people exchanges climbed, highlighted by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s visit to Mongolia in 1992 and a visit by the president of Mongolia, His Excellency Mr P O Chirbat, to Thailand in 1994.
” Many other high-level visits followed, adding momentum, enriching the scope of cooperation, and fostering friendly relations between our two countries,” Ms Battsetseg said.
Both sides have stopped issuing visas for ordinary passport holders since 2007 and introduced seasonal direct flights, which means that Mongolians are traveling to Thailand are increasing at the same time.
Thailand is also becoming a tourist destination for Mongolians, particularly medical travelers, according to Ms. Battsetseg.
In 2023 over 13,000 Mongolians travelled to Thailand, a notable increase from 8,000 the year before. Conversely, the number of Thai nationals visiting Mongolia in 2023 surpassed 2,000, marking a threefold rise from 2022.
Setting its sights on welcoming more global adventurers, Ulaanbaatar has declared 2023–2025 as” The Years to Visit Mongolia”, under the rallying call of” Welcome to Mongolia”.
The government eased the entry visa requirements for people visiting 30 countries and introduced an online visa application system that makes it simple for citizens to apply for visas in 99 countries, making the application process go smoothly.
This promotion has amplified Mongolia’s appeal as a top-tier destination, Ms Battsetseg said, and as of December 2023 the country has been witnessing a record influx of tourists.
Also, due to the country’s expanding network of air connections and enhanced road infrastructure, navigating the vast expanses of Mongolia has become more convenient.
We want to welcome more Thai visitors to our nation so they can experience the Mongolian people’s hospitality and natural beauty, according to Ms. Battsetseg.
Mutual trade and investment
Aside from the people-to-people connections, both sides are hoping to see more mutual trade and investment.
A body, according to Ms. Battsetseg, will foster regular dialogue and foster cross-sector collaboration. A framework that orients cooperation in high priority areas has also been created using a five-year work plan.
Additionally, she said, the two nations have established a Joint Trade Commission, which is essential for boosting trade and economic cooperation.
She continued,” It is crucial to maintain the momentum of our dynamic cooperation.”
The country is seeking to explore new areas of cooperation that align with Mongolia’s 2050 Vision and Thailand’s Vision 2030, she noted.
According to Ms. Battsetseg, agricultural research and development that strengthens both countries ‘ capacity for food production could be a new area of cooperation as Thailand strives to become a leading industrial hub.
She pointed out that Mongolia’s expertise in livestock farming could complement Thailand’s strengths in crop cultivation and processing.
Additionally, joint efforts to advance sustainable and organic farming practices could lead to new markets for agricultural products from both nations, particularly in those areas where organic food is increasingly in demand.
” Furthermore, we could cooperate in air cargo transportation, as our direct flights from Ulaanbaatar to Bangkok are scheduled to operate year-round starting from this year. Last year alone, 53,000 Mongolians travelled to Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, and Thailand was one of the top destinations for Mongolians,” she added.
On top of that, with the increasing demand for digital technology and innovation, Mongolia is keen to collaborate with Thailand in promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship through exchange programmes, joint hackathons, and startup incubation initiatives.
Working in financial technology ( fintech ) could involve sharing expertise in blockchain technology and creating financial services that are specific to the needs of both countries, according to Ms. Battsetseg.
She said it is crucial to facilitate more interactions between Thai and Mongolian businesses.
According to Ms Battsetseg, strengthening ties between the two parties ‘ respective business communities will lead to greater mutual trade and investment.
This could involve organising more business forums, exchanging business delegations, attending Mongolia’s Economic Forum and the region’s largest food and beverage trade show, THAIFEX, or other trade shows and exhibitions, and engaging matchmaking events to connect potential partners and facilitate collaboration, she said.
At the same time,” MonGolia, Always Moving” was launched as this year’s tourism campaign.
According to Ms. Battsetseg, it demonstrates Mongolia’s investment prospects while preserving the country’s traditional nomadic culture from an economic standpoint.
It serves as an open invitation at the same time as a platform for expanding tourism and attracting more investment.
We also anticipate working toward the final drafts of the pending intergovernmental agreements and treaties to enhance the legal environment. Looking ahead, I am confident that the future of Mongolia-Thailand relations is even brighter. ” Ms Battsetseg said.
Regional partners
Amid a series of ongoing global challenges, Ms Battsetseg said Mongolia recognises the importance of solidarity, interconnectedness, cooperation and multilateralism.
Thailand and Mongolia are both committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation as well as to co-operating at multilateral forums to discuss issues of common concern, she continued.
Since the 1990s, Mongolia has pursued a multi-pillar and open foreign policy, actively seeking to integrate into the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2005, Ulaanbaatar ratified the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, acknowledging the significance of Asean’s contribution to regional integration.
Ms. Battsetseg stated that it intends to actively participate in Asean and its subsidiary organizations ‘ activities going forward.
Thailand is Mongolia’s third-largest trade partner in Southeast Asia.
I want to share a quote from King Rama IX’s speech as we pause to remember the historic milestone,” Ms. Battsetseg said.
“‘Friendship between nations is important, but what is more important is people-to-people relations, which can guarantee peace and progress’. “
” I firmly believe in the significance of this statement, as it highlights the crucial role of cultivating connections between people as the foundation of achieving lasting peace and progress,” Ms. Battsetseg continued.
I’m confident that our relationship will continue to grow, and I look forward to working closely with my Thai counterparts to improve our relationship for the benefit of our respective nations and people. “