Mongolia and New Zealand held their second round of inter-ministerial consultations in Wellington, reviewing bilateral relations and exploring opportunities to expand cooperation across a range of sectors. The meeting marked the resumption of formal consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries after a 12-year gap.
The Mongolian delegation was led by G.Battulga, Director of the Department for the Americas, Middle East and Oceania at Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the New Zealand side was headed by Charlotte Darlow, Director of the North Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Officials from relevant agencies of both countries also attended.
During the consultations, the two sides assessed the current state of bilateral relations and exchanged views on future cooperation priorities. Discussions covered disaster preparedness and earthquake prevention, agricultural cooperation, education and development assistance, and opportunities to expand renewable energy partnerships suited to the countries’ respective geographical and natural conditions.
In agriculture, the sides explored opportunities to exchange expertise in sheep shearing and strengthen Mongolia’s capacity to export meat. They also discussed New Zealand’s experience as a major agricultural exporter, its approach to free trade agreements and the multilateral trading system. The Mongolian delegation briefed its counterparts on recent developments in the country’s economic policies and development initiatives.
The consultations also addressed regional and international affairs, including shared challenges in energy markets. Mongolia outlined its relations with Russia, China and other regional partners, while New Zealand presented its Pacific regional policy and its approach to foreign aid and development cooperation.
On multilateral issues, the two countries exchanged perspectives on cooperation through the United Nations, including UN reform, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration within the UN and other international organizations. They also discussed regional engagement through ASEAN, the East Asia Summit and the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening friendly relations through practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest and maintaining regular dialogue between their respective foreign ministries.
