Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has been awarded Mongolia’s State Supreme Decoration, the Order of Chinggis Khaan. In honoring Ban, Ulaanbaatar paid special recognition to his contribution in strengthening Mongolia’s democracy and its support for global peace and security.
On November 2, President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa presented the Order of Chinggis Khaan award to Ban in a special ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Ban’s award ceremony coincided with Mongolia’s National Pride Day, which celebrated the 862nd anniversary of Chinggis Khaan’s birth.
The Order of Chinggis Khaan is a supreme decoration and has only ever been awarded to one other foreign national, esteemed historian and author of multiple books on Mongolia’s history, Jack Weatherford.
In his remarks at the award ceremony, Khurelsukh said that Ban’s “dedication to world peace, human rights, freedom, justice and equality, [and] environmental protection has been instrumental in advancing green development policies and enhancing cooperation between Mongolia and the United Nations.”
In his acceptance speech, Ban expressed “immense honor and gratitude” for the award. He added, “While this is a recognition of personal achievement, more importantly, it is also a celebration of the rich history and enduring spirit of the Mongolian people,” before going on to praise the legacy of the award’s namesake.
“Chinggis Khaan, a name that resonates far beyond the borders of Mongolia, is a symbol of strength, vision, innovation, and unyielding determination,” Ban said. “Indeed, in a world that often feels divided, Chinggis Khaan’s ability to unite diverse peoples under a common vision serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, diversity, and understanding in harmony with strong leadership.”
The State Supreme Decoration symbolizes Mongolia’s recognition of Ban’s long support for the country’s democracy, as well as his dedication in supporting Mongolia’s missions within the United Nations, especially peacekeeping operations. Ulaanbaatar’s participation in the United Nations is key for the country to conduct its multi-pillared, peaceful foreign policy in a growing hostile environment.
Moreover, Mongolia’s efforts in promoting peace in the Korean Peninsula are close to Ban’s heart as a South Korean native.
Ban Ki-moon served as U.N. Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016, seeking to “mobilize world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy and water.”
Meanwhile, Mongolia’s international contributions to U.N. goals – including the Climate Change Summit of 2007, the Millennium Development Goals, U.N. Women, and the Sustainable Development Goals – have been a significant part of Mongolia’s democratic approach to development and enhancing Mongolia’s position on the world stage. Considering Ban’s almost decade-long stint as the U.N. leader, he had a role to play in Ulaanbaatar’s successful implementation of many of the U.N. agendas.
Moreover, during Ban’s time as U.N. secretary-general, he established relationships with previous three Mongolian presidents – Enkhbayar Nambar, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, and Battulga Ukhnaa – and visited Mongolia in 2009 and 2019.
In 2009, Ban made a special visit to the Five Hills Peacekeeping Training Center and met with Mongolian peacekeepers who were preparing to deploy to Africa. He thanked the Mongolian leaders for their participation.
Even after leaving the secretary-general role, Ban remained an important figure in Mongolia’s relations with the United Nations, security matters in the Korean Peninsula, as well as Mongolia-South Korea relations. In 2021, Ulaanbaatar and Seoul became strategic partners. In 2023, Ban attended the Trans-Altai Stability Dialogue on Gender Equality and Sustainable Development in Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia is overcoming the challenges stemming from its landlocked position through relationship building. Having strong relationships with global leaders like Ban is viewed as a positive for Mongolia’s foreign policy.
The decision to award the Order of Chinggis Khaan to someone so active in supporting Mongolia’s transition to a thriving democracy with strong participation in global affairs sends a message about the country’s direction. As a nation, Mongolia is looking to the future and understands how being an active member of the global community can help meet its future challenges. Likewise, Ban’s remarks at the award ceremony portrayed a Mongolia ready to expand its diplomatic influence to promote its values of democracy and peace.