Canberra lit up two historic buildings with the colors of the Mongolian flag

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Australia. In recognition of this milestone, the two governments have organized a diverse range of activities celebrating the past and present and looking forward to a successful next 50 years.

To commemorate the anniversary, Canberra lit up two historic buildings, the National Carillion and Old Parliament House, with the colors of the Mongolian national flag.

Mongolia and Australia established diplomatic relations on September 15, 1972. Per long-time leader Yu.Tsedenbal’s foreign policy agenda, Mongolia looked to establish diplomatic relations with countries beyond Russia and China, Mongolia’s only two direct neighbors. Australia, although geographically distant from Mongolia, is similar in its landscape and rich natural resources, and Mongolia had much to learn from its experience.

In 1997, Mongolia’s first democratically elected president, P.Ochirbat, became the first president to visit Australia. However, despite P.Ochirbat’s effort to activate what Yu.Tsedenbal had started 25 years prior, Canberra did not open an embassy in Mongolia until 2015. Instead, the Australian embassies in Moscow, Beijing, and Seoul served as a liaison at different times. For its part, in 2007, Mongolia recognized Australia as a “third neighbor.” A year later, Mongolia opened its embassy in Canberra, and Ts.Jambaldorj was appointed ambassador.

In 2011, Austrade was established in Ulaanbaatar, which later became the Australian Consulate Center. In December 2015, then Foreign Minister Julia Bishop announced the opening of the Australian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, and John Langtry became the first resident ambassador. Before being appointed, Langtry oversaw the North Asia division at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).