Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “Having established diplomatic relations with 186 countries around the world and joined 58 international organizations, Mongolia has become a respected member of the international community”, remarked Minister of Foreign Affairs Ts.Munkh-Orgil as he gave a speech at the Open Day of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, May 30.
 
Following the open day of the Ministry of Defense on May 29, Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thus holds an open day event on the central square. The Foreign Ministry’s departments and foreign diplomatic missions in Ulaanbaatar are introducing their operations and services including visa procedures to the general public. Moreover, an exhibition featuring archival materials and old photographs relating to significant historic events is unveiled by foreign relations archive.
 
Founded in 1911 and primarily designated to secure the independence and territorial integrity of Mongolia through diplomatic channels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employs 142 personnel at its main office, with 45 diplomatic missions operating in 36 countries.


 
Minister Ts.Munkh-Orgil extended his gratitude to the generations of diplomats who contributed to affirming Mongolia’s sovereignty and progress over the years. He continued, “The current Cabinet is focusing on generating a favorable environment for social and economic development, facilitating trade and increasing investment”.
 
“Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working towards successful delivery of public service to Mongolian nationals living abroad and aiding them”, the Minister noted. At present, 144,566 Mongolians are living abroad, with the most people living in the Republic of Korea (37 thousand) and the US (25 thousand).
 
The opening ceremony was also addressed by Ambassador of the Czech Republic Ivana Grollova who on behalf of the diplomatic corps thanked her Mongolian colleagues for their cooperation. “I wish you a beautiful day with this great possibility for each of us to show the culture of our countries”, she said.
 
It’s notable that the foreign diplomatic missions didn’t only offer information on visa procedures and study opportunities to visitors, but executed an excellent cultural presentation of their nations, making the central square an international arena.
 
Present at the central square are the UN, the Embassies of Australia, Canada, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,  Turkey, India, United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Laos and Consulate of Sweden.


 
“It’s a great idea, and we want to thank the Foreign Ministry for allowing us to show our national strength and pride”, said Douglas R. Bingeman, Counseller and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada which is participating for the first time at such an event. “We are having lots of fun here in Canada”, he said. He observed that number one concern of people visiting the Canadian stall is visa.
 
Ambassador of the Republic of India Suresh Babu was present at the Indian stall which represented the incredible nation through cuisine, handicrafts, jewellery pieces and more. “You can see a little India here”, he said. “All Embassies have come together in an informal gathering, and it is a very interesting atmosphere of mixed cultures”.

Kh.Aminaa