Mongolia’s Importance for Turkey

When Turks think of Central Asia they focus on their historic roots. Thinking of trade, they recall the ancient Silk Road cities of Kashgar, Samarkand and Bukhara.
 
They are correct, of course, since Turkic history encompasses all these territories -- and more. However, there is a detail that is often omitted.
 
If one is to equate Central Asia with Turkic history, a revered place must be reserved for Mongolia. After all, that is where the Orkhon inscriptions of the Göktürk Empire are located, which are the oldest Turkic inscriptions discovered and preserved. The significance of present-day Turco-Mongolian relations was highlighted last week by the visit of the Turkish prime minister to Ulaanbaatar. This bilateral relationship is important in at least three respects.
 
Heading the list are economic relations. The Mongolian economy is the envy of the Western world. Whilst at the height of the global financial crisis the Mongolian economy contracted by 1.3 percent in 2009, and then grew by 6.4 percent in 2010 and a further astounding 17.3 percent in 2011. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Mongolia’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 12.7 percent in 2012. The IMF projects a growth rate of 15.7 percent for 2013, making it the world’s fifth-largest growing economy.
 
This growth is expected to continue as the compounded annual growth rate for 2013-2017, based on the IMF’s estimates, is expected to be 13.8 percent. Despite such an exemplary trajectory Turkey’s trade with Mongolia added up to only $36 million, of which only $8 million were Mongolian exports to Turkey. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan identified a target of $250 million in terms of bilateral trade to be achieved by 2015.
 
Further trade, however, can only be encouraged through greater contact and ease of access. These two matters were dealt with through the announcement of visa-free travel. Six years ago Ankara granted Mongolian citizens the right to travel to Turkey visa-free for 30 days. This was reciprocated by Mongolia, thereby providing Turkish businesspeople easier access to visit and evaluate the booming economy and, in turn, increasing and strengthening commercial relations.
 
Turkish-Mongolian relations become multi-dimensional
 
Given the distance between the two countries, air travel used to be a major obstacle as flights had to be routed via Moscow or Beijing. Turkish Airlines started flying between the two countries three times a week last summer, and there are indications daily trips could begin soon with the aim of initiating cargo trips as well.
 
Apart from trade and investment, further commercial ties were also discussed in the prime minister’s official visit. With Turkey constructing 400 units of housing in Mongolia within the last decade, new construction remains a hot topic for both sides. Looking to the future, Erdoğan and Mongolian Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag decided to focus their cooperative efforts on Mongolia’s infrastructure development in an effort to promote the construction of modern apartments, paved roads and the planning of suburban districts, thus reorganizing of the capital city’s outskirts.
 
Joint ventures in leather, wool and cashmere processing and the production of ready-made products as well as the tourism sector were also identified. Additionally, the Turkish side offered support in providing advanced technology for the energy sector. As relations grow stronger, it is highly likely that trade and joint ventures will flourish -- as long as they are backed up by necessary elements such as human capital and transport infrastructure.
 
The second important aspect of the relationship is without a doubt, common heritage. This was celebrated by the capital city renaming one of its streets as Ankara Boulevard. It was appropriate that ties were recalled and celebrated in this manner due to the fact that the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) had built 46 kilometers of road from the ancient city of Kharkhorin to Khushuu Tsaidam where the Turkic Bilge Khan Monuments are located. Through this modern asphalt road the historic treasures were made much more accessible for all visitors, domestic and foreign alike.
 
The two countries also agreed to move ahead on the construction of an international airport near the ancient city of Kharkhorin, with Prime Minister Erdoğan pledging Turkish financial and technical assistance. When this project is realized all visitors will have far easier access to the Orkhon inscriptions.
 
Thirdly, mention must be made of the warmth of political relations. Prime Minister Erdoğan emphasized the political cooperation that exists between the two countries, noting that: “With the support of Turkey, Mongolia was accepted as the 57th member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).” Ankara worked hard to make to ensure Mongolia’s acceptance to the OSCE and welcomed Mongolia ınto this wide-ranging international organization.
 
Closer cooperation in important policy areas established
 
In January, Mongolia joined Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey in founding the Organization of the Eurasian Law Enforcement Agencies with Military Status (TAKM), an intergovernmental military co-operation organization. This is another good example of the two countries working together closely in an important policy area. It demonstrates once more the comfort level Mongolia has with regard to Turkey in the politico-military sphere.
 
Given such close political and cultural ties that stretch back to 1997 when Turkish funded joint archaeological projects concerning ancient Turkic monuments in Mongolia started, the Mongolian prime minister talked of taking the relationship to another level: “Since 2004, Mongolia and Turkey have been collaborating in a comprehensive partnership and intend to further strengthen their cooperation. In particular the two sides are aiming to bring it to the level of a strategic partnership.”
 
This is a highly significant development for both parties. Mongolia has adhered to a “third neighbor policy” since the 1990s, heralding its desire to establish and maintain relations with countries other than which it shares borders with, i.e. Russia and China. Not surprisingly, the first country that Ulaanbaatar had in mind was the US. The announcement that relations with Turkey ought to be at such a level is welcome news for both countries.
 
It is good for Mongolia as it reiterates its cultural and historic links to the Turkic world, paves the way for enhanced trade and joint ventures as well as maintaining a firm and important position within the Turkish milieu. It is good for Ankara too, as strengthening relations with Mongolia runs hand in hand with its already excellent relations with its ethnic kith and kin in Central Asia, as well as its friendly relations with both Moscow and Beijing. Furthermore, Mongolia could well be the springboard for initiating even better political and commercial relations with Ulaanbaatar’s two neighbors. The Turkish government has pledged to continue assisting Mongolia in several infrastructural projects emphasizing the historic cultural dimensions to a great extent. This is not only understandable but commendable and needs to be encouraged.
 
Reading and learning about the Orkhon inscriptions is one thing, but being able to go there and see them in their original state, receive all the relevant information in a state of the art museum established on site is certainly a project that TIKA should be greatly praised for. Further improvements in transport infrastructure will assist in closer cultural cooperation and trading opportunities, but there is one dimension that still needs to be addressed. That is educational cooperation. Deeper strategic and political ties can be firmly cemented through student and research exchanges. Whilst commercial contacts are welcome and necessary, so are educational networks.
 
The Turkish government has experience establishing universities in both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and ought to investigate extending another branch of its educational arm to Mongolia. A Mongolian-Turkish University which focuses on rearing first-class Mongolian graduates to assist in their country’s new challenges and endeavors would yield tremendous benefits for everyone and culminate in a high return, low-cost project.
 
If for whatever reason this is not preferred, then at least the secondment of Turkish academics to Mongolian University departments should be arranged. Turkish archaeologists, economists, historians and political scientists can contribute much to the Mongolian academic environment. It would generate a culture of contemporary understanding and cooperation between students and young people as well as researchers and established academics. The instigation of closer academic ties would spillover into commercial ventures and assist in creating a more qualitative appreciation of the historic ties that bind these two nations.
 
The Mongolian prime minister called attention to an ongoing “comprehensive partnership.” That cannot exist when the academic dimension is exempt from bilateral relations. It should be borne in mind that through welcoming more Mongolian students to study in Turkey, as well as funding long-term academic stays in Mongolia, Ankara would be facilitating and strengthening the forthcoming strategic partnership.