Ban Ki-moon awarded Mongolia’s State Supreme Decoration
The award recognises the former UN Secretary General’s work to strengthen relations between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea and foster wider cooperation between nations within the framework of the UN
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has this week been awarded Mongolia’s State Supreme Decoration – The Order of Chinggis Khaan. The award recognises his work to strengthen relations between Mongolia and his native Republic of Korea and to promote wider cooperation between nations to tackle the shared challenges facing the world.
On 2nd November, President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, presented the award at the State Palace in honour of ‘Mongolian Pride Day,’ which commemorates the birth of the Emperor Chinggis Khaan.
The Order of Chinggis Khaan honours individuals who have significantly contributed to strengthening the unity, prosperity, and peace of the people; advancing Mongolia’s relations and cooperation with foreign nations; enhancing Mongolia’s global reputation; and fostering the nation’s economic, social, and spiritual development. This esteemed recognition is given to distinguished statesmen and social activists, as well as citizens of foreign countries who have made meaningful contributions in these areas. Ban Ki-moon is only the second foreign recipient of this prestigious award, and follows esteemed American historian, Jack Weatherford.
The award recognises Ban Ki-moon’s work during his time as UN Secretary-General between 2007 and 2016 to:
- Bring the global community together to intensify the fight against climate change, culminating in the 2015 Paris Agreement that was ratified by over 190 countries
- Advance the cause of gender equality, with numerous initiatives put in place to support women’s rights, leading to an over 40 per cent rise in women in UN management positions, the highest level in history
- Drive forward the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, including through the allocation of US$60 billion to fund new global strategies for Africa and for women and children’s health, and urging G20 counties to provide US$1 trillion in funding to support developing countries in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis
- Strengthen UN peacekeeping operations and efforts to promote disarmament, and encourage a greater focus on nuclear safety following the 2011 Fukushima disaster
- Support a strengthening of Mongolia’s relationship with the UN, as well as with the Republic of Korea, and promoting Mongolia’s global leadership in highlighting the challenges faced by landlocked developing countries.
"The fact that we are welcoming Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to The Order of Chinggis Khaan shows the esteem in which we hold his work to bring the international community together"
The award also recognises his efforts over several decades to promote Mongolia on the world stage and pave the way for closer relations between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea. This includes promoting Mongolia’s global leadership on the development of landlocked developing countries and on international peacekeeping, and being at the heart of efforts to increase the scope of Mongolia-Korea bilateral cooperation.
Commenting on being awarded The Order of Chinggis Khaan, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations said: “It is an honour to be in Mongolia to receive this prestigious award. I fondly recall my time as UN Secretary-General and am struck by how much more progress Mongolia has made in developing its economy and entrenching democratic norms over the past two decades.
“Mongolia provides a model for other landlocked developing countries and the global south in how to harness the potential of its people and implement an inclusive model of economic growth in line with the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, said: “It is incredibly rare for Mongolia to award our highest state decoration to somebody who is not a citizen of our country. The fact that we are welcoming Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to The Order of Chinggis Khaan shows the esteem in which we hold his work to bring the international community together; something which is fully in line with our peaceful, open, independent and multi-pillared foreign policy and leaves a lasting positive legacy to this day.
“I would like to point out that under your leadership, the world has moved from the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as ratifying the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and making significant progress in reducing poverty and strengthening the protection of women's and children's health as well as rights. It is a matter of pride that even after the honourable position of the UN Secretary-General, you continue to work for world peace and sustainable development without abandoning the mission and initiatives you started.
“In addition, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for expanding our relations and cooperation with the Republic of Korea and contributing to the development of our country.”
During his visit to Mongolia between the 1st and 3rd November, Ban Ki-moon also visited the headquarters of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries in Ulaanbaatar, attended a state reception in honour of The Order of Chinggis Khaan, and gave an honorary lecture at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.
"It is an honour to be in Mongolia to receive this prestigious award. I fondly recall my time as UN Secretary-General and am struck by how much more progress Mongolia has made in developing its economy and entrenching democratic norms over the past two decades"
Ban Ki-moon’s support for Mongolia
During his tenure as Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon’s first official visit to Mongolia in July 2009 was crucial in recognising and promoting various international activities undertaken by the Mongolian government. During the visit, Ban Ki-moon delivered a lecture on ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’, which served as a significant impetus for enhancing cooperation with the UN to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and adapt to new conditions. He expressed his gratitude to Mongolia for its contributions to peacekeeping operations by visiting the peace support training centre of the armed forces. He also commended Mongolia’s leadership role in the international community’s efforts to address the challenges faced by landlocked developing countries and he launched the operations of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries in Ulaanbaatar, the only independent, international, intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Ulaanbaatar.
Recent Relations between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea
In 2005, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea, Ban Ki-moon invited Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ts. Munkh-Orgil, for an official visit to Korea. This meeting paved the way for the 2006 state visit by President Roh Moo-hyun to Mongolia, and its various key outcomes. The two nations agreed to advance their relationship to a “partnership of good neighbourliness, friendship, and cooperation.” The two countries significantly expanded cooperation in fields of information technology, communication, energy, construction, and transportation, and strengthened inter-ministerial relations. An ‘Agreement on Social Protection’ was signed during the visit, which to this day plays a vital role in safeguarding the interests of citizens in both countries while enhancing citizen exchanges.
In recent years, the ‘Future Strategy of Korea and Mongolia’ forum took place in Seoul in 2023 and in Ulaanbaatar in 2024, with support from the Ban Ki-moon Foundation. Ban Ki-moon has also been instrumental in fostering high-level ‘Strategic Partnership’ cooperation between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea, laying the groundwork for deeper bilateral relations.
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