History
2022-12-20
Since its admission to the United Nations in October 1961, the reputation of the Mongolian People’s Republic had been raised in the international arena, enabling it to strengthen its foreign relations. As a result, the country broadened its directions of foreign affairs and started developing open diplomatic relations with many countries. For the Mongolian People’s Republic, it was very significant to establish diplomatic relations with ‘young’ Singapore, which already gained an important political, economic, geographic, and strategic position amongst the Southeast Asian countries, with its declaration of independence in 1965. As an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Mongolian People’s Republic to the Republic of India, Mr Ts. Demiddagva commenced official talks with foreign affairs officials of Singapore in 1969 on the establishment of diplomatic relations, the sides reached an agreement within a relatively short period, resulting in MPR and Singapore’s establishment of diplomatic relations on June 11, 1970. It began a history of longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Singapore. Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the MPR Mr Yu. Tsedenbal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew extended mutual greetings on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During the first few years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Mongolian Ambassador to the Republic of India Mr Ts. Demiddagva served as the first Non-Resident Ambassador of Mongolia to Singapore. In December 1994, the Government of the Republic of Singapore accredited its Ambassador to the Republic of Korea as a Non-Resident Ambassador to Mongolia. Ambassador Pang Eng Fong presented his Letter of Credence to the Mongolian President in May 1995.
In 1992, Mongolia established its Trade Representative Office in Singapore. The Trade Representative Office of Mongolia was reorganized as a Consulate General in 2001, and later as the Embassy of Mongolia in Singapore in 2008. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Mr Enkhbayar Sosorbaram, presented his Letter of Credence to Her Excellency Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, on 6 December 2021.
During the past five decades, friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries have further expanded and developed. More than 1,600 Mongolian officials were trained through Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and over 1,500 officials have participated in 14 Temasek Foundation (TF) Programmes in Mongolia over the years. In July 2016, the Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to Mongolia and thereafter attended the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Prime Minister of Mongolia Mr Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai paid an official visit to Singapore in July 2022 at the invitation of Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai called on Acting President Eddie Teo and met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who also hosted an Official Lunch.
Mongolia and Singapore work closely at regional and international fora, such as ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the United Nations (UN), as we share a common goal of maintaining regional peace and stability and upholding an open and inclusive rules-based multilateral system. Our two countries enjoy strong multilateral cooperation and mutual support, especially in the elections of the UN and other international organizations.
In times of need, Mongolia and Singapore have supported each other. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit us in 2020 Temasek Foundation donated 3000 test kits and 10 oxygen concentrators to Mongolia, while Mongolia provided 200 gift bags to Singapore’s frontline healthcare workers.