Lecture Abstract

Over the past 20 years, Mongolia has transformed into a vibrant multiparty democracy with a booming economy. It has advanced from an aid recipient to an active player in the international arena due to its progressive cooperation with the international community and the role of the UN and other multilateral architectures. Mongolia aims to promote a balanced relationship with both immediate and the Third Neighbours, to extend the scope of relations bearing in mind not to become economically and politically overly reliant on any country. Beyond our immediate neighbours, expanding relations with the Third Neighbours as a means to diversifying its foreign relations is imperative for a landlocked small country. Mongolia is at the threshold of a major transformation driven by the exploitation of its vast mineral resources, including mining which makes up 20 percent of the GDP today; twice that of a decade ago. Today, Mongolia is a transit hub for 1.5bn people in China and Russia. Using the geographical advantage, Mongolia is planning to become the shortest transit link that connects Asia and Europe.

About the Speaker

Damdin Tsogtbaatar (born January 14, 1970) is a Member of Parliament, State Great Khural, and serving as a Minister for Foreign Affairs. Previously, he was appointed as Minister of Construction and Urban Development (2014-2015) and Minister for Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2012. He introduced innovative concepts of Green Development for Mongolia, reduced down-payment for subsidized housing among others during his tenures.

He served as the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2008-2012), and Foreign Policy Advisor to two Presidents of Mongolia (2002-2008). Foreign Minister D.Tsogtbaatar received his Master’s Degree in Legal Studies (International Law) from the Australian National University School of Law (with Distinction) and Master’s Degree in Political Science (with Honours) from the Moscow Institute of International Relations, Russia, and speaks English, Russian, Khmer and Thai.