Source: New Zealand Government
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
It is a pleasure for the New Zealand to be in Ulaanbaatar this afternoon. The welcome has been warm, even if the temperatures outside have not been. Though, your Ambassador tells me the temperature reached +1 degrees Celsius at midday today! Thank you to Foreign Minister Battsetseg for your generous hosting.
Despite our geographic distance, New Zealand and Mongolia share many commonalities: both small states committed to democracy, multilateralism, and the international rules-based order.
We also share proportional representation electoral systems, New Zealand since 1996, and Mongolia since 2024.
The New Zealand-Mongolia relationship is warm and long-standing. It is significant that this year we are marking 50 years since diplomatic relations were established in 1975. This is a seriously important milestone.
It was valuable exchanging views and experiences today with the Minister and colleagues, and discussing our respective regional and international priorities.
The New Zealand community here in Mongolia is small, but an important element to our relationship. We thank the New Zealand community – and Mongolians in New Zealand – for their support for this relationship, and for continuing to find exciting new ways to connect our countries.
Ties between our people continue to deepen. We continue to welcome Mongolian scholars to New Zealand, including through the long-standing English Language Training for Officials (“ELTO”) programme.
New Zealand is also pleased to provide targeted support to Mongolian NGOs and other groups through the New Zealand Embassy Fund. This has included support for sheep-shearer training programmes. This might sound ordinary, but shearing is a critical part of ensuring productivity!
This year we are contributing towards a rural water project, which will support over 100 families to access the water supply system. We are also helping Mongolian herders to build climate change resilience.
Once again, thank you to Foreign Minister Battsetseg and other senior Mongolian colleagues for your generous hosting on this important occasion.
And allow me to reiterate one last time what a special significance it is for me to be here today.
Thank you.
