It is a great privilege and honour to be here in Mongolia.

I would like to thank His Excellency President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa (Hu-rel-suh ugh-nah)

for a very warm welcome, and I thank the people of Mongolia for your warm hospitality.  

My visit here, together with my husband, is the second visit by an Australian Governor-General. One of my predecessor’s, Governor-General Bill Hayden, visited Mongolia just over 30 years ago, in 1994.  

Our visit underlines our strong and long-standing relationship, including as one of Mongolia’s ‘third neighbours’ – like-minded democracies that share a vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

At the heart of our relationship are the links between our people, built over many decades.

Australia is proud to host a growing Mongolian diaspora. Australians are increasingly coming to Mongolia as tourists, volunteers, artists, and businesspeople. I look forward to meeting many of them during my visit and I encourage more Australians to visit Mongolia and experience this remarkable, dynamic democratic country.

Mongolia and Australia share a strong history of education cooperation, beginning with a group of 6 intrepid Mongolian students coming to Australia under our early scholarship program, also in 1994.  

And now there are many thousands of Mongolians who have chosen to study in Australia and have returned home to make a positive contribution here.

And, in Australia, they are building enduring friendships and networks between both our countries.

I look forward to learning more about your growing resources and energy sector where Australian companies are engaging and investing.

Our partnership with Mongolia is making a strong and sustainable contribution to economic prosperity, building skills and employment opportunities, particularly for women. Australia and Mongolia share the challenges of combatting climate change in countries with harsh and unique natural environments.  

In our visit I want to hear from women building climate resilience, young people learning renewable energy skills, and how Mongolia’s world-famous agricultural sector is adapting to change.  We are honoured by this opportunity to experience Mongolia’s culture, heritage and people, and to see its stunning natural beauty.  

Through the visit, I hope to contribute further to our mutual friendship and pave the way for future collaborations.

I thank you again for your warm welcome and hospitality.