There has been a long tradition of good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Mongolia. Today, these relations are based on the Russia-Mongolia Treaty of Friendly Relations and Cooperation dated January 20, 1993.
In recent years, stagnation in Russian-Mongolian relations has been largely overcome, and they are rapidly developing now in the spirit of strategic partnership.
From April 10 to 13, 2008, Mongolian Prime Minister Sanjaagiin Bayar paid an official visit to Moscow. Mr Bayar's visit resulted in the signing of eight intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents. Under the agreements reached, Russia has helped the Mongolian government to stabilise the socially sensitive markets for foodstuffs and oils and lubricants and has transferred, on a gratis basis, seven apartment buildings, formerly belonging to the Russian Defence Ministry, to the city of Ulan Bator.
From May 15 to 16, 2008, Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar paid a working visit to Moscow. Mr Enkhbayar met with the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev. The two countries' leaders discussed in detail key issues concerning the Russian-Mongolian strategic partnership, focusing on trade and economic relations, as well as mutual investments.
On October 30, 2008, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with his Mongolian counterpart, Sanjaagiin Bayar, during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) council of heads of government. They discussed some current issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
A representative delegation of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party headed by the Vice Speaker of the Mongolian parliament, Nyamaa Enkhbold, attended a congress of the United Russia party held on November 20, 2008.
On December 14, 2008, the 30th anniversary of the Mongolian-Russian venture Erdenet was marked on a wide scale with the participation of Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar and First Deputy Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag.
Other important top-level meetings and contacts also took place.
The beginning of this year saw a series of intensive bilateral exchanges.
On January 29, 2009, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar in Davos within the framework of the World Economic Forum.
From January 22 to 23, 2009, Mongolian Prime Minister Sanjaagiin Bayar paid a working visit to Irkutsk.
On March 6, 2009, Moscow hosted the 13th meeting of the Russian-Mongolian Intergovernmental Commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.
From March 15 to 18, 2009, Mr Bayar paid a working visit to Moscow. Mr Putin held extended and closed meetings with him. The Mongolian Prime Minister also met with Igor Levitin, Russian Minister of Transport and chairman of the Russian section of the Russian-Mongolian Intergovernmental Commission; Sergei Chemezov, director general of the Rostekhnologii State Corporation, and Vyacheslav Volodin, secretary of the General Council Presidium of the United Russia party. The two sides signed three interdepartmental documents: a programme of cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science for 2009-2011; an agreement between the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Mongolian Department of Nuclear Energy on cooperation in nuclear power generation and uranium production, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and the Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.
In connection with the approaching 70th anniversary of the Russian-Mongolian victory at Khalkhin Gol, the Mongolian side invited Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to pay a state visit to Mongolia.