Mongolia is a country with hundreds of years of proud traditions of statehood and foreign relations. The end of the Cold War, disintegration of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the socialist system have given rise to a brand new external en-vironment around Mongolia. Mongolia's move towards democracy and a market economy warranted adrastic shift in the strategies, purposes and priorities of our foreign policy. Hence, Mongolia abandoned "satellite state" foreign policy and developed independent, non-aligned, multi-pillar, open, and foreign policy concept based on guidance by its national interests. Mongolia's new Constitution, adopted in 1992, stipulates "Mongolia shall adhere to the universally recognized norms and principles of international law and pursue a peaceful foreign policy".
Pursuant to the new Constitution, the Concept of National Security and the Concept of Foreign Policy were adopted by the State Great Khural /Parliament/ of Mongolia in 1994. Since then, these policy documents have constituted sustainable and long-term foreign policy tenets. Having built up the independent, multi-pillared, open foreign policy, Mongolia is gaining more and more friends and partners, advancing its position regionally and internationally. Today, Mongolia entertains diplomatic relations with 143 countries and adheres to 178 international multilateral treaties. Furthermore, Mongolia is a member of 49 international and intergovernmental organizations. With the broadening of Mongolia's international relations, the number of the country's foreign representatives is also increasing.
New Mongolian embassies have been opened in Canada and Austria, as well as consular departments at 7 diplomatic representative offices. Moreover, 19 honorary consuls have been newly appointed and there are now 45 honorary consuls of Mongolia working overseas. The foreign policy priority of Mongolia is to develop long-term, stable and good neighbourly relations with its two neighbours, Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. The policy core is not to adopt the line of either of these two countries but maintain a balanced relationship with both of them. Mongolia signed Treaties on Friendly Relations and Cooperation with the Russian Federation in 1993 and with the People's Republic of China in 1994, respectively. Based on the universal principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful co-existence, these agreements laid a legal foundation for the bilateral relations with these two nations.
Due to invested bilateral endeavours, the relations with Russia and China have been increasingly expanding and now the bilateral relations with both of them have advanced into the partnership dimension. With regard to Mongolia-Russia relations, the visit of the Russian President to Mongolia in November 2000, after a 26-year interval, opened a new stage in Mongolia-Russia relations. The visits by the Russian Premier to Mongolia in 2002 and the Mongolian Prime Minister to Russia in 2003 were of extraordinary importance concerning the solution of the outstanding issues inherited from the past. Today the traditional partnership of good neighbourliness based on the principle of mutual benefit is being developed between the two countries. Efforts made to advance and strengthen the scope and parameters of the friendly relations between Mongolia and China by exchanging highest and high-level delegations, and to expand and deepen the cooperation in all areas, including trade and economic cooperation, produce a great deal of results.
During the recent state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Mongolia, it was agreed to develop a partnership of good neighbourliness and mutual trust. The Russian Federation and People's Republic of China are our main trade partners as well as major investors. Within the framework of the multi-pillar foreign policy, Mongolia seeks to promote its relations with the industrially advanced nations of the West and East, including the United States, Japan and Germany. At the same time it advocates a cooperative relationship with other countries of Asia and Europe, such as India and South Korea. The political, financial and moral support of these countries has played a paramount role in consolidating the new political, economic and social developmental strategies to speed up the transition into the market economy.
Over the last.decade, mutual understanding and confidence between Mongolia and the USA has deepened, Mongolia's place on the US foreign policy agenda has increased, and a closer cooperation has been developed. Mongolia-Japan relations have greatly expanded in all areas on the basis of further consolidation of the Comprehensive Partnership. Japan has been and remains to be a committed supporter of Mongolia's democratic reforms and has independently rendered assistance of over 50 percent of overall donor countries' aid in overcoming the difficulties Mongolia facing during its transition to the market economy. Mongolia places a priority focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It strives to foster both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region and become constructively involved in political and economic integration. Mongolia accords special significance to Northeast Asia and Central Asia.
Mongolia believes that the time has come to make concrete steps towards building a consultative mechanism to discuss NBA security issues. It proposed to establish an official (first track) security dialogue mechanism in NEA and it now works on the ways of advancing this proposal. Since joining the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1998, Mongolia has been taking an active participation in the Forum's activities. It seeks to become a member of the APEC and ASEM. Promoting cooperation with the United Nations, its specialized agencies and with international financial and economic institutions, such as the World Bank, IMF and ADB among others are the priorities of the foreign policy. Mongolia was admitted to the UN in 1961. During more than 40 years of its membership, Mongolia has transformed itself from a passive to an active player in the various UN organs. It is the author of over 50 resolutions on social and economic issues and co-sponsor of about 500 resolutions adopted by the UN and its specialized organizations.
Kofi Annan's official visit to Mongolia in 2002 was a significant event following the time when Mongolia made the decision to step up to the road of democratisation. The Government of Mongolia has been implementing the "Good Governance for Human Security Programme" jointly with the United Nations Development Program since January 2001. The participation of the President of Mongolia, Natsagyn Bagabandi, in the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, and in the opening ceremony of the UN's Literacy Decade in 2003 were a strong indication of Mongolia's commitment to the ideals of the UN. Mongolia is the world's first UN-recognized single-State Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. Moreover, Mongolia's nuclear-free status has received the endorsement of all nuclear states, as well as of the entire international community. The country's nuclear weapon-free status is making a specific contribution to strengthening the regional peace and stability.
Mongolia fully shares the aspirations of the member countries to reform the UN with a view to making the organization financially stable, able to cope successfully with the challenges of the 21 st century . and able to carry out efficient and dynamic activities. Mongolia successfully convened the 5th International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in Ulaanbaatar in 10-12 September 2003. 119 countries, 10 international organizations and 650 civil society representatives participated in the Conference. The main theme of the Conference was Democracy, Good Governance and Civil Society. At the closing sessions of the conference, leaders of the sub-committee and of the Forum of Parliamentarians made their reports, issued the 22-point Ulaanbaatar Declaration and also a plan of action.
Despite the variety of views of the delegates they were unanimous in the view to strengthen democracy, make legal renewal, fight corruption and terrorism and alleviate poverty. The UN General Assembly issued a resolution in appreciation of the Ulaanbaatar conference and of its international significance. In 2004 Mongolia has been included in the list of countries to be involved in the USA's Millennium Challenge Account Program. This is an expression of the US government's resolute support for the Mongolian democracy. Mongolia as a member of the World Trade Organization supports trade liberalization that becomes a prevailing global tendency.
In the pursuit of the policy of trade liberalization Mongolia, while taking into account specific requirements of the national development, seeks to fully enjoy special and differential treatment granted to developing countries in accordance with the WTO decisions and multilateral trade agreements. Mongolia attaches importance to developing relations wit the former socialist countries with which we have had, for almost five decades, close cooperative relations. Promoting relations with the developing countries is another priority for Mongolia's foreign policy. Mongolia is a developing country, a member of The Non-Aligned Movement as well as the Group of 77. We expect that their role will be further enhanced in the era of globalisation.
In the distant past the Mongols were warlike people. Such nature of nomadic tribes was born of the objective conditions of their everyday life: the struggle for the best pasture for the stock, for protection for their families, for leadership and finally armed struggle or war against alien nationalities. The Mongols taught their children to ride horses from the age of nree, and made bows and arrows matching their age. In 4th -2nd centuries B.C the Huns had a strong military- administrative structure and a powerful army of cavalry, with heavy armour for both horses and horsemen. 
