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Minister Joly to welcome Mongolian counterpart to Ottawa
From: Global Affairs Canada
News release
November 19, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will welcome Battsetseg Batmunkh, Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Ottawa on November 20, 2023.
This visit will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Mongolia, as both countries remain eager to continue this long-lasting friendship and advance common priorities.
The ministers will explore opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries including on climate change and on the energy transition, and will discuss shared regional and global security challenges, notably peace and stability in Northeast Asia and challenges to the rules-based international order.
Quotes
“Canada and Mongolia have enjoyed strong bilateral relations for decades, and I am looking forward to welcoming Minister Battsetseg to Ottawa. Her visit in our nation’s capital will allow us to further identify opportunities for our two countries to cooperate and strengthen links through shared democratic values.”
– Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
- Canada recognized Mongolia in 1964 and diplomatic relations were established in 1973. Mongolia opened its embassy to Canada in 2001, and the Embassy of Canada to Mongolia was opened in Ulaanbaatar in September 2008.
- In 2016, Canada and Mongolia signed the Canada-Mongolia Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), which will provide a more transparent and predictable regulatory environment for Canadian investors in Mongolia.
- Mongolia is committed to playing an active role on the international stage, through its membership of in a number of international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Canada and Mongolia: mining more than minerals

Amar Adiya
Sep 24
As Canada and Mongolia mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, eyes turn
to broadening economic links beyond the mining sector. Mongolia is eager to
diversify trade with “third neighbors” like Canada beyond natural resources.
Canada boasts as the second largest investor in Mongolia, including the
giant Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine by Rio Tinto. Yet the relationship is ripe
for diversification.
Honorary Consul of Mongolia Bryon Wilfert sees untapped potential in
sectors like agriculture, renewable energy and education.
Mongolian Ambassador to Canada Erdenetsotgyn Sarantogos, Honorary Consul Bryon Wilfert
and Minister Counsellor Vashagiin Oyu in Ottawa (Linkedin.com)
From his post in Toronto, Wilfert is working to spotlight opportunities
outside minerals.
Clean energy is one area with potential, as both countries navigate
massive geography with extreme climates. Canadian renewable know-how could aid
Mongolia’s transition away from polluting coal.
Agriculture and food exports also offer prospects, Wilfert notes. As do
construction, emergency management and services given the countries’ shared
landscapes. But realizing this requires effort to spur business exchanges,
trade missions and networking.
Essential too are direct air links, says Wilfert, with talks dragging on
a Canada-Mongolia route. New flights can test if his thesis pays off. Unfounded
doubts echo critics of Vancouver’s Asian gateway role, proved wrong by
customers flying from Seattle.
Yet economic ties are only half the picture. More vital still are
people-to-people links. Most Canadians associate Mongolia with Genghis Khan
(Chinggis Khaan) and cashmere, oblivious to today’s country. Education and
scholarships are needed to move beyond the stereotypes.
To that end, Wilfert is planting a tree this October to celebrate 50
years of bilateral ties. With student exchanges in the works, he also wants to
showcase Canadian governance. As a former parliamentarian, Wilfert sees
openings to develop Mongolia’s legislative capacity.
But interest must flow both ways. Wilfert is working to promote Mongolian
culture in Canada as well. His efforts include having local Mongolian
communities in Ontario engage more with Canadian society.
As Canada pivots its focus to the Indo-Pacific, it should see Mongolia as
more than a mine of commodities. The bilateral friendship forged 50 years ago
is ripening into one with two-way trade, investment, technology and knowledge
transfers. But realizing that potential requires channeling energy into the
human connections underlying all diplomacy.”