State visit to Mongolia

Topic: Report

6 February 2024

Federal President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender have paid a state visit to Mongolia from 6 to 8 February. Fifty years ago, the Federal Republic of Germany and Mongolia established diplomatic relations.

Federal President Steinmeier with President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh

With his visit, the Federal President wished to pay tribute to the close bilateral relations between Germany and Mongolia and underscored the importance of the partnership with the country. Guests from the cultural sphere accompanied the Federal President.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife Ms Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg welcomed the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender with military honours in the capital Ulan Bator on 7 February. The Federal President then held talks with President Khurelsukh.

Meanwhile, Elke Büdenbender visited a kindergarten where air purifiers and energy-efficient building insulation had been installed with the support of UNICEF and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The Mongolian President and his wife hosted a state banquet in the evening.

On 8 February, political talks were scheduled with Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun‑Erdene and Gombojav Zandanshatar, Chairman of the State Great Hural. Meanwhile, Elke Büdenbender held discussions about the rule of law and tackling corruption.

Thereafter, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender went on a tour of the family-run Munkh Cashmere knitwear business, which produces sustainable cashmere clothes for a German fashion company. They then visited the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, where the Federal President hosted a reception at lunchtime at which Mongolian alumni of German programmes and German stakeholders in Mongolia convened.

In the afternoon, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender visited the Alexander von Humboldt Schule. The state comprehensive school teaches German as a focal foreign language from form 3 onwards. Thereafter, they were received by a nomadic family and were given insights into preparations for celebrating the Mongolian Lunar New Year Tsagaan Sar.

Overview of the programme

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

  • Evening
    Flight to Ulan Bator, Mongolia

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

  • Noon [CET +7]
    Arrival in Ulan Bator
  • 3.00 p.m., Sükhbaatar Square
    Welcome with military honours by President of Mongolia Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg
  • Thereafter, Government Palace
    Signing of the visitors’ book and talks between the Presidents
  • Thereafter
    Signing ceremony on the issues of transport, science, archaeology, environment, energy, the judiciary and economic development
  • 4.45 p.m.
    Joint press conference
  • Evening
    State banquet in honour of the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender, hosted by the President of Mongolia and Ms Bolortsetseg

Thursday, 8 February 2024

  • 9.00 a.m., State Great Hural
    Talks with Gombojav Zandanshatar, Chairman of the State Great Hural
  • Thereafter
    Talks with Luvsannamsrai Oyun‑Erdene, Prime Minister of Mongolia
  • Thereafter
    Tour of the Munkh Cashmere knitwear business
  • Thereafter
    Tour of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum
  • Lunchtime
    Reception hosted by the Federal President
  • 2.00 p.m., Alexander von Humboldt Schule
    Visit to the comprehensive school and discussions with pupils
  • Thereafter, Töv aimag central province
    Exchange with a nomadic family, together with the President of Mongolia
  • Evening
    Flight to Berlin