Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, October 25, 2013

It is an honour for my wife, Sharon, and me to be here in Mongolia. This State visit underscores not only our strong relationship, but also its potential for growth.

I am pleased to be here as we celebrate a significant milestone in our relationship—the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. This is a particularly momentous occasion, as it reflects the durability and resilience of our friendship.

I am pleased by the comprehensive nature of our friendship. For four decades, Canada has engaged with Mongolia on many levels. Trade and investment are certainly important, particularly in the resource sector. But more than that, we share a devotion to the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, both in our own societies and in our partnership within the larger world. We both seek to make a positive difference for our citizens, our country and the broader international community.

Our peoples both know the challenges of living in a northern climate, of sharing a vast landscape with relatively small populations compared to our larger neighbours. Indeed, we have so much in common that it is easy to see why our relationship has grown in the past 40 years.

And yet, even with all that we have accomplished, there is still so much more that we can do.

That is why I am here. I hope to discover new ways our two countries can work together to benefit both our peoples.

Since my arrival, I have been speaking with Canadians and Mongolians, and meeting with people from a number of different sectors of society. It is at the people-to-people level, I believe, that the growth and strength of our friendship has shown itself most obviously.

In these conversations, one thing has stood out for me: the potential for even more sharing of knowledge.

In fact, Canadians and Mongolians already are practising what I like to call the diplomacy of knowledge across all disciplines, from exchanging new ideas and techniques in mining to renewing and revitalizing the public service.

The learning we impart, the education we offer our people, is one way to measure how we progress as a society. I am impressed with Mongolia’s interest in forging ahead with reforms and with our co-operation to accomplish its goals. And I look forward to continuing our partnership, building on our 40-year history, which is just the beginning of what will no doubt be a long and fruitful relationship.

Thank you for welcoming Sharon and me so warmly to your country and for allowing us the chance to discover Mongolia for ourselves.

I would now like to raise a glass to our continued friendship and to our expanding relationship.