Diplomatic relations between Italy and Mongolia date back to 1970; 2025 therefore marks the 55th anniversary of their establishment. Exchanges between the Italian and Mongolian people, however, long predate the formalization of diplomatic relations. The Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar houses an artifact from the Roman period (3rd–2nd century BC), which bears witness to the existence, already in ancient times, of contacts between the civilizations from which the two countries descend.
The first documented diplomatic mission dates back to 1245, when Pope Innocent IV, concerned about the expansion of the Mongol Empire toward the heart of Europe, sent the Franciscan friar Giovanni da Pian del Carpine to the court of Khan Guyuk, entrusting him with the delivery of two papal letters. This mission, which reached Mongolia in 1246, preceded the famous journeys of Marco Polo to the court of the Great Khan Khubilai. In memory of this shared historical heritage, Italy organized in 2024, in cooperation with the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, an exhibition dedicated to Marco Polo on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of his death. A statue dedicated to the renowned Venetian traveler stands in the center of Ulaanbaatar, attesting to the role played by Marco Polo in Mongolian culture.
Relations between Italy and Mongolia are founded on a solid network of bilateral agreements and cooperation instruments. A particularly significant milestone was reached in January 2025 with the signing of the first Air Services Agreement between the two countries, which established a comprehensive regulatory framework for the launch of direct air connections between Italy and Mongolia, thereby contributing to enhanced connectivity and exchanges between the two people.
The positive momentum of bilateral relations was further consolidated by the visit of the President of Mongolia, Mr. Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, to Italy in December 2025, carried out on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations and at the invitation of the President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Sergio Mattarella.
In this context, Italy and Mongolia agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership, elevating the level of relations and defining a structured framework for cooperation in the political, economic and trade, cultural, scientific and technological fields, as well as in the multilateral sphere.
During the visit, President Khurelsukh also met with representatives of the Italian parliamentary institutions. In the course of the visit, an Italy–Mongolia Business Forum was also held, and numerous instruments were signed, in particular the list.
Cooperation between Italy and Mongolia also develops within the broader framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Mongolia and the European Union and its Member States, signed in Ulaanbaatar on 30 April 2013, which constitutes an important multilateral foundation for political dialogue and sectoral cooperation.