At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Mr. Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia, paid an official visit to Italy from November 30 to December 4, 2025, to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Italian Republic and Mongolia.
During the visit, the Italian Republic and Mongolia (hereinafter, “the Sides”), decided to elevate their bilateral relations to the level of Strategic Partnership by means of the following “Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between the Italian Republic and Mongolia” (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Declaration”).
- The Sides acknowledged the very positive development of their traditional friendly and longstanding prosperous bilateral relations. The Sides also emphasized major achievements resulting from their cooperation in all fields and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateralism, promoting international peace and security and advancing the global sustainable development agenda.
- The Sides declare to elevate their bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership based on values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the respect for the principles of the UN Charter.
- Within the scope of the Strategic Partnership, the Sides express their intention to:
- enhance political dialogue through exchange of high-level visits, the strengthening of the existing bilateral mechanisms – such as the Political Consultations between Foreign Ministries – and the promotion of active engagement between parliamentary groups;
- strengthen cooperation in the multilateral fora, especially the UN. Italy will continue to support deeper cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union under the 2017 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement;
- intensify collaboration in the field of defense, including exchanges of experience between the respective Defenses and Armed Forces, as well as through enhanced defense industry cooperation;
- expand economic, trade and investment cooperation through the strengthening of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation as well as direct engagement of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Trade Agency – ITA.
- with a view to enhancing the bilateral trade and increase access to both markets, joint trade promotion initiatives and country presentations may be organized, alternatively in each State, in order to open new pathways to boost the export and untap the potential of further investment and economic exchanges and contribute to the growth and prosperity of both peoples;
- encourage industrial cooperation, as well as collaborations between small and medium enterprises, in priority sectors, such as the fashion and cashmere sectors, where they intend to develop a sustainable supply chain, agro-industry, energy, including renewables, and other sources and technologies enhancing the energy transition;
- promote cooperation in the field of infrastructure development, including both physical and digital infrastructure, with the aim of supporting sustainable economic growth and connectivity. This may include collaboration in areas such as energy networks, transport and logistics infrastructure, water and waste management systems, information and communication technologies (ICT) and healthcare. Particular attention shall be given to the development of resilient and secure IT infrastructure, digital transformation, and smart solutions to enhance public services and industrial competitiveness;
- promote cooperation on environmental protection, particularly in the field of circular economy and sustainable land, water and waste management, also by promoting bilateral initiatives between the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia;
- develop cooperation in the field of critical minerals and raw materials, also in the framework of the Joint Statement between the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia, to be signed on the sidelines of President Khurelsukh’s visit;
- enhance cooperation in the field of transport by implementing the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of Mongolia, done at Rome on 23 January 2025, and finalise the conclusion of the Agreement on International Road Transport of goods between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of Mongolia;
- promote the cooperation on civil protection and disaster risk management, building on the ongoing successful cooperation between the Civil Protection Department of the Italian Republic and the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia;
- ensure Italy’s support – also in the framework of EU-funded programs – to the ongoing Mongolia’s efforts to strengthen its administrative, judicial and legal systems;
- foster cooperation in the fields of science, education and culture. In particular, the Sides underline the importance of academic exchanges and intend to enhance collaborations between research centers, universities and higher education institutions of both countries, also by increasing scholarship opportunities;
- acknowledge the contribution of people-to-people exchanges in deepening bilateral relations. In this respect, the Sides will promote cooperation in the fields of sports, building on the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and tourism, also within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth of Mongolia, to be signed on the sidelines of President Khurelsukh’s visit.
- This Joint Declaration does not constitute an international agreement which may lead to rights and obligations under international law. No provision of this Joint Declaration is to be understood and performed as a legal obligation of the Sides.
Rome, December 2, 2025
