Yes we Khan! Opportunities for Australia in Mongolian visit

“The difference is that Australia has a start on us. You have so much expertise in mining technologies and techniques, as well as the infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads and rail. We can learn from you.”

Mr Sanjaagiin’s itinerary underlines that statement. As well as the normal diplomatic pleasantries in Canberra, and a meeting with representatives of the tiny Australian-Mongolian community in Sydney, Mr Sanjaagiin will spend much of his time in Queensland and New South Wales looking at how we operate our mining sector.

One of his visits will be to the Northparkes copper and gold mine 27 miles north-west of Parkes in NSW. Mr Tserendorj says that while the mine is small “it employs the latest technology which we will need in the development of the Oyu Tolgoi Project”.

Another major plus for Australia is its leadership in research into clean coal technologies. Mr Tserendorj says that environmental concerns are high on the agenda of his government.

“Another industry that is very important and which we are hoping to develop further is tourism,” he says. “This relies very heavily on our wide open spaces, our mountains, lakes and nomadic culture. It is especially liked by tourists from Japan and Taiwan while Europe is an expanding market, so we do not want to do anything that has a detrimental impact on our pristine environment.

“On the other hand we have huge deposits of coal, so we need to find out what Australia and other countries can offer that will help us to mine efficiently and cleanly.”

Also on the Prime Minister’s agenda is meeting with NSW Premier Nathan Rees and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, and in what could be one of the most important engagements of the whole visit, a speech to the Australia-Mongolia Business Forum, in Brisbane during which he is expected to outline just how Australian companies can benefit from investment in his country.

Mongolia was the superpower of the 13th and 14th centuries, conquering China, dominating most of Asia and penetrating Europe to create the largest contiguous empire in human history. While the popular perception of Genghis Khan and his successors is one of rule by bloodthirsty tyrants, the fact is the era of the Khans was largely marked by an expansion of commerce, protection of trade routes and obedience to law.

It would be a shame if Australia misses out on a second era of Mongolian-inspired prosperity.