Germany and Mongolia enter into strategic partnership

DPA
·2 min read
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd L) and the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh (R), stand behind Tobias Lindner (L), Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, and Battsetseg Batmunkh, the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, at a signing ceremony. Steinmeier's trip to mark German-Mongolian diplomatic relations marks the 50th anniversary of strategic partnerships on the economy, energy, logistics, transport, and raw materials. Britta Pedersen/dpa
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Representatives of Germany and Mongolia signed an agreement on a strategic partnership in the presence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday.

"Mongolia and Germany have really long-standing and very friendly relations," said Steinmeier during his state visit. With the strategic partnership, Germany is now one of Mongolia's closest partners, he added.

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh said that Germany was the first country in Europe to establish such a partnership with Mongolia.

He referred to the many Mongolians who had already learnt about German culture and language in Germany. To this day, they form a bridge between the peoples of the two countries, the president said.

The occasion for Steinmeier's trip is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Relations with the former East Germany go back even further - partly because numerous labour migrants from Mongolia lived there. Today, around 1% of the population - around 30,000 people - speak German.

Soldiers of the Mongolian honor guard at the military honors. Steinmeier's trip to mark German-Mongolian diplomatic relations marks the 50th anniversary of strategic partnerships on the economy, energy, logistics, transport, and raw materials. Britta Pedersen/dpa
Soldiers of the Mongolian honor guard at the military honors. Steinmeier's trip to mark German-Mongolian diplomatic relations marks the 50th anniversary of strategic partnerships on the economy, energy, logistics, transport, and raw materials. Britta Pedersen/dpa
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd L) and his wife Elke Buedenbender (L) are received by the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, and his wife Luvsandorjiin Bolortsetseg (R). Britta Pedersen/dpa
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd L) and his wife Elke Buedenbender (L) are received by the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, and his wife Luvsandorjiin Bolortsetseg (R). Britta Pedersen/dpa