President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he looked forward to bolstering diplomatic relations with Mongolia, as he received Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh at Malacañan Palace on Monday.

“I hope that your visit will spark more interactions between our two countries,” President Marcos told the Mongolian Foreign Minister.

Battsetseg’s visit marks the first official visit by a Mongolian Foreign Minister to the Philippines in 41 years. The last visit was made by then Foreign Minister TS Gombosuren in 1984, during the administration of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

The Philippines and Mongolia established diplomatic relations on October 11, 1973. This year marks the 52nd anniversary of those ties.

Around 500 Filipinos are currently residing in Mongolia, working as teachers, representatives in international organizations, and members of the clergy. | PND