Uzbekistan-Mongolia: dialogue based on historical proximity and strategic interests

On June 24-25, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to Mongolia.

Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Mongolia were established on January 25, 1992. Since then, the bilateral dialogue has been developing progressively, demonstrating mutual interest in strengthening friendly ties, political understanding and expanding multilateral cooperation.

Over the past decades, the parties have built stable relations based on respect for sovereignty, equality and the absence of political contradictions.

In recent years, there has been an intensification of the Uzbek-Mongolian political dialogue. President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh visited Uzbekistan as part of his participation in the Samarkand SCO summit in 2022. The leaders of Uzbekistan and Mongolia also met on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai on December 1, 2023.

The first state visit of the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to Uzbekistan on June 23-26, 2024 was of particular importance. As a result of the fruitful negotiations between the leaders of the two countries, a Joint Statement on Interstate Relations and Cooperation was signed, as well as 14 documents of an intergovernmental and other nature.

“Mongolia is our traditional and reliable partner in the Asian region. Uzbek-Mongolian relations are built on the principles of friendship, mutual respect and support, and do not depend on the situation,” noted President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during events during the visit.

Such a foundation is a solid foundation for growing bilateral contacts at the level of governments, parliaments and ministries, which contribute to bringing countries closer and increasing areas of interaction.

Thus, inter-parliamentary friendship groups operating in the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and the State Great Khural of Mongolia have established a constructive dialogue characterized by active exchange of visits.

Interdepartmental cooperation mechanisms are working effectively. Thus, inter-Ministry of Foreign Affairs political consultations help strengthen mutual understanding on issues of the bilateral and international agenda, harmonize approaches within international organizations, as well as form a stable legal and institutional framework for expanding cooperation in various fields.

To date, 7 rounds of political consultations have been held between foreign ministries, the last of which took place on May 7, 2024 in Ulaanbaatar.

The activities of diplomatic missions also play an important role in expanding bilateral cooperation. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Beijing is simultaneously accredited to Mongolia. On June 24, 2024, during the visit of the President of Mongolia to Uzbekistan, the official opening of the Mongolian Embassy in Tashkent took place. These diplomatic channels facilitate the organization of bilateral visits, political consultations and the preparation of draft agreements in various fields.

Uzbekistan and Mongolia traditionally support each other in the international arena. This is especially noticeable within organizations such as the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (in observer status for Mongolia), as well as in the Asia-Europe Dialogue (ASEM), where both countries see opportunities to strengthen ties between East and West.

Mongolia has repeatedly provided diplomatic support to Uzbekistan’s initiatives in the international arena aimed at ensuring sustainable development, regional stability and strengthening interconnectedness in Central Asia. In turn, Uzbekistan supports Mongolia's efforts to promote sustainable energy solutions, environmental protection and the conservation of steppe ecosystems.

Mongolia's growing interest in regional engagement with Central Asia, where Uzbekistan occupies a key geographic and economic position, is of particular importance. Uzbekistan, in turn, perceives Mongolia as an important partner in expanding political and economic ties with Northeast Asia.

Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Mongolia has not yet reached its full potential, but both sides express interest in intensifying it. Mongolia views Uzbekistan as an important trade and economic partner in the region. Indicators of bilateral trade turnover are steadily growing, showing an annual increase of 30% on average.

Both countries have significant raw materials, energy and agricultural potential, and their economies can be complementary. Cooperation in the energy sector, including renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies, is considered especially promising. Today, there are 17 joint ventures operating in Uzbekistan, including 12 with 100% Mongolian capital. Their field of activity is trade and services.

The parties are considering the possibility of creating joint ventures, developing trade missions, participating in fairs, business forums and investment conferences. In June 2024, it was announced the opening of trading houses in Mongolia and Uzbekistan and the holding of industrial exhibitions in the capitals of the two countries.

An additional impetus will be the agreement reached on the preparation of an Agreement on preferential trade in certain types of goods and proposals to facilitate market access.

On June 24, 2024, in Tashkent, as part of the state visit of President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to Uzbekistan, the leaders of the two countries met with representatives of the business community.

“We emphasized that we practically do not use the existing potential and opportunities. In this regard, we have set the task of increasing the volume of mutual trade tenfold in the coming years, primarily by expanding the range and volume of mutual supplies of in-demand products,” the head of Uzbekistan noted at this meeting.

The participation of Mongolian delegations in the traditional Tashkent International Investment Forum and other business events in Uzbekistan was a positive step in this direction.

Cultural and humanitarian interaction between Uzbekistan and Mongolia is based on deep historical and civilizational ties. For centuries, the Turkic and Mongolian peoples lived in a single ethnocultural and geopolitical space that originated in the steppes of Central Eurasia. These peoples are united by common patterns of nomadic culture, similar social structures, linguistic and mythological elements, deep respect for traditions, history and nature.

Empires that arose on the territory of modern Uzbekistan and Mongolia - from the state of the Huns to the empire of Genghis Khan and the Timurids - not only shaped the historical destiny of Eurasia, but also transferred to each other elements of administrative culture, art, diplomacy and military strategy.

Uzbekistan and Mongolia are custodians of the most important cultural and scientific traditions of the East - from the Great Silk Road to written and spiritual monuments. Mongolia has a large number of ancient written sources on the history and culture of the peoples of Central Asia, which are of interest to the Institutes of Oriental Studies and Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.

Cooperation in the field of archaeology, museum work, restoration and tourism opens up opportunities for joint projects, scientific expeditions, exhibitions and educational programs.

So, in October In 2023, representatives of the Jaloliddin Manguberdi Foundation made a scientific and practical trip to Mongolia with the aim of preparing video materials related to the Orkhun-Enasoy inscriptions, which are the roots of Turkic languages, including the Uzbek language.

Today, both sides are developing student exchanges, academic contacts, programs for the study of history, language and culture. A promising direction is the development of Turkic and Oriental studies centers, where Mongolian and Uzbek experience mutually enrich the scientific and educational sphere.

In addition, with the support of national cultural organizations, Culture Days, tours, film festivals, conferences and creative forums are held, forming the basis of humanitarian dialogue.

In June In 2024, a joint concert of the Uzbek Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments and the Mongolian Philharmonic Orchestra “Morin Khuur” took place in Tashkent. This Mongolian musical group also took part in the II International Forum of Maqom Art.

In turn, in November last year, a presentation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Uzbek people took place at the Mongolian Philharmonic with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia.

In a word, relations between Uzbekistan and Mongolia are based on respect, mutual interest and historical proximity. Both countries demonstrate a desire for more active cooperation both at the bilateral level and in multilateral formats. By increasing economic and humanitarian ties, Uzbekistan and Mongolia are certainly capable of turning their partnership into a stable and mutually beneficial vector of development in Central and East Asia. In this context, the upcoming state visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will, without a doubt, give a powerful impetus to this process and open a new page in the history of Uzbek-Mongolian interaction for the benefit of prosperity and strengthening of friendship between the peoples of our countries.

IA "Dunyo"