During Federal President Steinmeier’s state visit to Mongolia marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, a Strategic Partnership with Mongolia was signed on 7 February 2024.

The close ties between Germany and Mongolia stretch back to the 1920s and are rooted in part in the good relationship between the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Mongolian People’s Republic.

Since its democratic rebirth in 1990, Mongolia has developed a close partnership with the reunified Germany, one that encompasses all areas of political and cultural life. Mongolia sees Germany as its “third neighbour” and most important partner within the European Union.

The basis for relations is provided by the joint declaration on comprehensive partnership of 5 September 2008 and the agreement on cooperation in the area of raw materials, industry and technology of 13 October 2011.

The two countries promote democracy and human rights in the international arena, particularly within the United Nations. Although the countries’ long-standing joint security engagement in Afghanistan ended in mid-2021, politico-military cooperation continues, for example in the area of mountain infantry training.

In terms of development cooperation, Germany is traditionally the third-largest donor to Mongolia after Japan and South Korea, and the largest donor in the European Union. Development cooperation concentrates on energy efficiency, biodiversity and sustainable business promotion. One particular focus is on vocational training in the skilled crafts and in higher education. In addition to state actors GIZ and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), three German political foundations (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Hanns Seidel Foundation) have been active in Mongolia for many years.

Bilateral academic collaboration focuses on the archaeological investigations carried out by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), the University of Bonn and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences on the site of the ancient capital Karakorum.

Bilateral trade relations are modest: German exports in 2022 amounted to 182.8 million US dollars, while imports to Germany totalled 25.9 million US dollars.