Japan-Mongolia Relations 
February 2011
Basic Data
- Number of Residents:
- Number of Japanese nationals residing in Mongolia: 344 (Oct.2009)
- Number of Mongolian nationals residing in Japan: 4,159 (Dec.2007)
Bilateral relations
- Diplomatic relations between Japan and the People's Republic of Mongolia were established on February 24, 1972.
- Substantial expansion of the bilateral relationship has taken place since Mongolia's democratization and transition to market economies in 1990.
1. Japan-Mongolia relations over the past four years
(1) 2006: 800th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Great Mongolia State; the "Year of Mongolia in Japan"
- (i) Reciprocal visits by the Prime Ministers of Japan and Mongolia, for the first time in history
- March: Visit of Prime Minister Miyeegombo ENKHBAYAR to Japan
- August: Visit of Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI to Mongolia
- Signed the exchange of notes for the ODA loan project "Two-Step-Loan Project for SMEs Development and Environmental Protection" (approx. 3 billion yen; first ODA loan to Mongolia in five years)
- Confirmed that the development of Mongolia's mineral resources (copper, coal, uranium, etc.) is important for the sustainable development of the Mongolian economy
- Included Japanese folktales in Mongolian elementary school textbooks
- (ii) Visit to Mongolia by over 80 members of the Japanese Diet, including three former Prime Ministers (former Prime Ministers Toshiki KAIFU, Tsutomu HATA, and Yoshiro MORI) and two sitting Cabinet members (Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Shoichi NAKAGAWA and Minister of State for Defense Fukushiro NUKAGA)
(2) 2007: 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Mongolia; the "Year of Japan in Mongolia"
- (i) Visit of President Nambar ENKHBAYAR to Japan
- Formulated "Basic Action Plan for Japan and Mongolia over the Next Ten Years"
- Agreed to establish A Public-private Joint Consultative Meeting (comprised of two parts, one for the promotion of trade and investment and one for the development of mineral resources; has convened twice thus far, with the next meeting scheduled for autumn 2009 in Tokyo)
- (ii) Visit of H.I.H. the Crown Prince NARUHITO to Mongolia (first visit)
- Attended the Mongolian national festival 'NAADAM'
(3) 2008: State Great Khural (Mongolian parliament) general election
- (i) Visit of Chairman of the State Great Khural Danzan LUNDEEJANTSAN to Japan
- (ii) Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sanjaasuren OYUN to Japan
- Signed the exchange of notes for the ODA loan project "the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport Construction Project" (approx. 28.8 billion yen)
(4) 2009: New level of expanded commercial relations
- (i) In March, the Government of Japan announced that it would extend a maximum of 50 million US dollars over 2 years (new yen loans) to assist with public finances
- (ii) Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Sukhbaatar BATBOLD to Japan (Foreign Ministers' Meeting on April 13, etc.)
- (iii)Visit of Prime Minister Sanjaa BAYAR to Japan (Prime Ministers' Meeting on July 16)
2. Future issues for Japan-Mongolia relations
(1) An expansion of relations in the fields of economics and commerce, similar to the way that political relations have developed favorably, will be the most important issue. With private sector investment by Japanese companies not making any inroads, in public opinion surveys conducted in Mongolia, Japan's presence has been declining year by year, even through Japan is the greatest provider of ODA to Mongolia.
(2) The presence of neighboring countries China and Russia is overwhelming in the economic realm (trade and investment). In addition, the Republic of Korea's influence has been increasing dramatically, with the expansion of small- and medium-sized investments (restaurants, esthetic clinics, service industry businesses such as in fashion) and increases in the number of Mongolian workers accepted (approx. 30,000 people).
(3) Canada has launched large-scale investments towards the development of Mongolia's mineral resources (primarily copper), taking advantage of the most productive mineral veins.
- Trade
- Major res ocipientf Mongolia's exports (total value: 1.9 billion US dollars)
(1) China, 74.1%, (2) Canada, 9.4%, (3) USA, 3.4%, ... (6) Japan, 0.8% - Major sources of Mongolia's imports (total value: 2.1 billion US dollars)
(1) Russia, 34.6%, (2) China, 31.7%, (3) Japan, 6.0%
- Major res ocipientf Mongolia's exports (total value: 1.9 billion US dollars)
- Investment (total value: 2.36 billion US dollars)
(1) China, 51.1%, (2) Canada, 10.6%, (3) Republic of Korea, 6.7%, ...(7) Japan, 3.4%
(4) The US has decided to extend US$300 million of grant aid to Mongolia over the next 5 years (Millennium Challenge Account). (Japan's grant aid to Mongolia is approx. US$40 million per annum.)
(5)Against such a backdrop, it is extremely important that Japan engage substantially in the development of Mongolia's uranium and other abundant mineral resources, conduct large-scale investment, and create a mutually-beneficial relationship as Japan-Mongolia bilateral relations are developed to a new stage.
Economic cooperation
The economic cooperation and aid extended by Japan to Mongolia has expanded rapidly since 1991, accounting for approximately one-third of total aid for Mongolia by foreign countries and international organizations.
Japan's economic cooperation with Mongolia (million yen)
Fiscal year -2008
Grant aid 86,312
Loan assistance 67,914
Technical cooperation 30,511
Initially, economic cooperation was principally in the form of humanitarian aid for the Mongolian people, who were suffering deprivation amid the deteriorating economic situation in Mongolia at that time. Gradually, however, the cooperation came to be focused on the development of infrastructure to assist the gaining of economic self-sufficiency.
VIP Visits
- From Japan to Mongolia
-
Year Name 1989.10 Minister for Foreign Affairs S. UNO 1991.08 Prime Minister T. KAIFU 1999.07 Prime Minister K. OBUCHI 2002.06 H.I.H. Prince and Princess AKISHINO 2004.08 Minister for Foreign Affairs Y. KAWAGUCHI 2006.09 Prime Minister J. KOIZUMI 2007.07 H.I.H. the Crown Prince
- From Mongolia to Japan(1997-)
-
Year Name 1997.02 Prime Minister M. ENKHSAIKHAN 1998.05 President N. BAGABANDI 1999.05 Minister for Foreign Affairs TUYA 2000.09 Minister for Foreign Affiars ERDNECHULUUN 2001.02 Prime Minister N. ENKHBAYAR 2002.07 Minister for Foreign Affairs ERDENECHULUUN 2003.11 Prime Minister N. ENKHBAYAR
2003.12 President N. BAGABANDI 2005.03 Minister for Foreign Affairs Ts. MUNKH-ORGIL 2006.03 Prime Minister M. ENKHBOLD 2007.03 President N. ENKHBAYAR 2008.03 Minister for Foreign Affairs S. OYUN 2009.04 Minister for Foreign Affairs S. BATBOLD 2009.07 Prime Minister S. BAYAR
Image of Japan Study in Mongolia (Overview) (August 2005)
Cultural Exchange
Cultural exchange between the two countries has been expanding in recentyears, both at the government and private levels. Japan is also cooperating in the preservation of Mongolia's cultural inheritance, including the one through the surveyingand excavation of rhttp://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/4/1190611_1132.htmlelics at Karakorum,the capital of the Mongolianempire in the 13th century.
- Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Naoto Kan, by the delegation of the State Great Hural of Mongolia (Februrary 2011)
- The 2nd Meeting of the Joint Study Group of Japan-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (Novermber 2010)
- Visit to Japan of H.E. Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia and Ms.Khajidsuren Bolormaa (October 2010)
- Third Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue and Visit to the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs (August 2010)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Dashdorj Zorigt, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia (July 2010)
- Joint Public-Private Research on a Japan-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (June 2010)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Dambii Dorligjav, Head of the Office of the President of Mongolia (March 2010)
- Japan-Mongolia Foreign Ministers' Meeting (December 2009)
- Visit to Japan by His Excellency Mr. Sanjaa Bayar, Prime Minister of Mongolia (July 2009)
- Japanese ODA Loan to Mongolia (June 2009)
- Assistance by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to the project "Comprehensive Community Services to Improve Human Security for the Rural Disadvantaged Populations in Mongolia" (April 2009)
- The Japan-Mongolia Foreign Ministerial Meeting (April 2009)
- Japanese ODA Loan to Mongolia (March 2008)
- Visit to Japan by H.E. Ms. Sanjaasurengiin OYUN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia (February 2008)
- Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Mongolia (April 2007)
- Talks between Foreign Ministers of Japan and Mongolia (March 2007)
- Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Nambaryn Enkhbayar, President of Mongolia, and Mrs. Onongiin Tsolmon (February 2007)
- Outline of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Visit to Mongolia (August 2006)
- Grant Aid to Mongolia for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (August 2006)
- Cultural Grant Aid to Mongolia (August 2006)
- Assistance for "Reducing Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities of Selected Peri-Urban and Informal Mining Communities in Mongolia" Project (April 2006)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Miyeegombyn Enkhbold, Prime Minister of Mongolia (March 2006)
- Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi to Mongolia (September 2004)
- Assistance for "Sustainable Primary Health Care in Rural Areas, Mongolia" (May 2004)
- Japan-Mongolia Summit Meeting (Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Official Web Site) (December 2003)
- Visit to Japan of H.E. Mr. N. Bagabandi, President of Mongolia, and Mrs. A. Oyunbileg (Announcement by the Press Secretary) (November 2003)
- Statement by H.E. Mr. Tetsuro Yano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (September 2003)
- Assistance for Rehabilitation of Schools in Mongolia by the Trust Fund for Human Security (May 2003)
- Assistance for Rehabilitation of Schools in Mongolia by the Trust Fund for Human Security (May 2003)
- Congratulatory Telegram from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Nambaryn Enkhbayar, on the Promotion of Ozeki Asashoryu to the Rank of Yokozuna (January 2003)
- Visit to Japan by Minister for Foreign Affairs Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun of Mongolia (Outline and Evaluation) (July 2002)
- Japanese Government's Cooperation to Asia in the field of Information and Communications Technology (IT) (July 2001)
- Fourth Policy Dialogue between the Foreign Ministries of Japan and Mongolia (July 2001)
- Visit to Japan of Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Prime Minister of Mongolia (February 2001)
- Emergency Aid for Blizzard Disaster Relief in Mongolia (February 2001)
- Emergency Assistance to Mongolia for Snow and Drought Disaster (October 2000)
- Japan-Mongolia Summit (Summary) (June 2000)
- Visit to the People's Republic of China and Mongolia by Senior State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuma Esaki (May 2000)
- Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino to Visit Mongolia (May 2000)
- Cultural Grant Aid to Mongolia for the Cultural Heritage Centre of Mongolia (July 1999)
- Exchange of Notes Concerning the Amendment to the Schedule to the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Mongolia for Air Services (July 1999)
- Grant Aid to Mongolia to Increase Food Production (July 1999)
- Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's Visit to the People's Republic of China and Mongolia (July 1999)
- Pledge of Japan on its Assistance to Mongolia at the 7th Assistance Group Meeting for Mongolia (June 1999)
- President Natsagiin Bagabandi's visit to Japan (May 1998)
Press Secretary's Press Conference on Mongolia
| Year | Month | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | December | 17 |
| June | 18 | |
| 2008 | October | 7 |
| 2007 | April | 20 |
| January | 26 | |
| 2006 | November | 24 |
| June | 30 | |
| April | 18 | |
| March | 28 | |
| January | 26 | |
| 2005 | October | 4 |
| July | 14 | |
| June | 14, 24 | |
| January | 28 | |
| 2004 | January | 23 |
| 2003 | November | 14 |
| May | 27 | |
| 2001 | February | 6, 20 |
| 1999 | July | 6, 13 |
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