
Mongolia hasdiplomatic relations with all 192UN states, theHoly See, theState of Palestine and theEuropean Union.[1]
Its geopolitical position is defined by its geographical location, situated betweenRussia andChina, relying on trade with both sides. Officially, it maintains a neutral stance on international matters.[2] It has a modest number ofmissions abroad.
List of countries which Mongolia maintains diplomatic relations with:
| # | Country | Date[1] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 November 1921 | |
| 2 | 15 October 1948 | |
| 3 | 24 March 1949 | |
| 4 | 16 October 1949 | |
| 5 | 14 April 1950 | |
| 6 | 22 April 1950 | |
| 7 | 25 April 1950[3] | |
| 8 | 28 April 1950 | |
| 9 | 29 April 1950 | |
| 10 | 17 November 1954 | |
| 11 | 24 December 1955 | |
| 12 | 26 September 1956 | |
| 13 | 20 November 1956 | |
| 14 | 21 December 1956[4] | |
| 15 | 22 April 1960 | |
| 16 | 30 November 1960 | |
| 17 | 7 December 1960 | |
| 18 | 5 January 1961 | |
| 19 | 25 January 1961 | |
| 20 | 25 June 1961 | |
| 21 | 1 February 1962 | |
| 22 | 1 February 1962 | |
| 23 | 5 February 1962 | |
| 24 | 6 July 1962 | |
| 25 | 12 September 1962 | |
| 26 | 23 January 1963 | |
| 27 | 2 April 1963 | |
| 28 | 1 July 1963 | |
| 29 | 15 July 1963 | |
| 30 | 22 May 1964 | |
| 31 | 30 June 1964 | |
| 32 | 27 April 1965 | |
| 33 | 7 December 1965 | |
| 34 | 31 December 1966 | |
| 35 | 17 January 1967 | |
| 36 | 24 January 1967 | |
| 37 | 3 March 1967 | |
| 38 | 30 June 1967 | |
| 39 | 31 July 1967 | |
| 40 | 11 January 1968 | |
| 41 | 5 August 1968 | |
| 42 | 24 June 1969 | |
| 43 | 11 June 1970 | |
| 44 | 18 June 1970 | |
| 45 | 29 June 1970 | |
| 46 | 7 July 1970 | |
| 47 | 14 July 1970 | |
| 48 | 28 August 1970 | |
| 49 | 28 February 1971 | |
| 50 | 20 May 1971 | |
| 51 | 1 June 1971 | |
| 52 | 8 July 1971 | |
| 53 | 7 September 1971 | |
| 54 | 8 September 1971 | |
| 55 | 21 September 1971 | |
| 56 | 24 February 1972 | |
| 57 | 6 March 1972 | |
| 58 | 28 June 1972 | |
| 59 | 15 September 1972 | |
| 60 | 11 October 1973 | |
| 61 | 30 November 1973 | |
| 62 | 19 December 1973 | |
| 63 | 31 January 1974 | |
| 64 | 5 March 1974 | |
| 65 | 4 June 1974 | |
| 66 | 26 July 1974 | |
| 67 | 4 February 1975 | |
| 68 | 8 April 1975 | |
| 69 | 17 June 1975 | |
| 70 | 24 September 1975 | |
| 71 | 27 September 1975 | |
| 72 | 14 October 1975 | |
| 73 | 22 October 1975 | |
| 74 | 19 November 1975 | |
| 75 | 10 February 1976 | |
| 76 | 15 March 1976 | |
| 77 | 23 April 1976 | |
| 78 | 16 June 1976 | |
| 79 | 16 June 1976 | |
| 80 | 11 July 1976 | |
| 81 | 15 February 1977 | |
| 82 | 2 April 1977 | |
| 83 | 6 June 1977 | |
| 84 | 5 July 1977 | |
| 85 | 2 October 1978 | |
| 86 | 11 May 1979 | |
| 87 | 8 August 1979 | |
| 88 | 13 October 1979 | |
| 89 | 15 November 1979 | |
| 90 | 25 July 1980 | |
| 91 | 21 May 1981 | |
| 92 | 21 August 1981 | |
| 93 | 30 October 1982 | |
| 94 | 30 August 1984 | |
| 95 | 2 July 1985 | |
| 96 | 25 October 1985 | |
| 97 | 6 November 1985 | |
| 98 | 12 December 1985 | |
| 99 | 6 July 1986 | |
| 100 | 27 January 1987 | |
| 101 | 19 June 1987 | |
| 102 | 10 August 1988 | |
| 103 | 1 March 1989 | |
| — | 13 October 1989[5] | |
| 104 | 26 March 1990 | |
| 105 | 30 November 1990 | |
| 106 | 14 December 1990 | |
| 107 | 2 October 1991 | |
| 108 | 15 October 1991 | |
| 109 | 20 November 1991 | |
| 110 | 11 December 1991 | |
| 111 | 21 January 1992 | |
| 112 | 22 January 1992 | |
| 113 | 24 January 1992 | |
| 114 | 25 January 1992 | |
| 115 | 30 January 1992 | |
| 116 | 21 February 1992 | |
| — | 4 April 1992 | |
| 117 | 16 April 1992 | |
| 118 | 22 April 1992 | |
| 119 | 23 April 1992 | |
| 120 | 24 April 1992 | |
| 121 | 27 April 1992 | |
| 122 | 12 May 1992 | |
| 123 | 18 May 1992 | |
| 124 | 1 January 1993 | |
| 125 | 18 January 1993 | |
| 126 | 24 February 1993 | |
| 127 | 10 March 1993 | |
| 128 | 25 May 1994 | |
| 129 | 27 June 1995 | |
| 130 | 1 April 1996 | |
| 131 | 30 May 1997 | |
| 132 | 7 October 1997 | |
| 133 | 21 January 1998 | |
| 134 | 5 February 1998 | |
| 135 | 18 March 1998 | |
| 136 | 16 May 1998 | |
| 137 | 22 December 1998 | |
| 138 | 14 July 1999 | |
| 139 | 4 April 2000 | |
| 140 | 17 June 2003 | |
| 141 | 28 October 2003 | |
| 142 | 3 July 2006 | |
| 143 | 1 February 2007 | |
| 144 | 12 February 2007 | |
| 145 | 25 April 2007 | |
| 146 | 22 May 2008 | |
| 147 | 27 May 2010 | |
| 148 | 13 October 2011 | |
| 149 | 13 October 2011 | |
| 150 | 13 October 2011 | |
| 151 | 18 October 2011 | |
| 152 | 19 October 2011 | |
| 153 | 21 October 2011 | |
| 154 | 5 December 2011 | |
| 155 | 5 December 2011 | |
| 156 | 20 December 2011 | |
| 157 | 21 December 2011 | |
| 158 | 21 December 2011 | |
| 159 | 22 December 2011 | |
| 160 | 17 January 2012 | |
| 161 | 17 January 2012 | |
| 162 | 22 March 2012 | |
| 163 | 26 October 2012 | |
| 164 | 19 April 2013 | |
| 165 | 24 June 2013 | |
| 166 | 8 July 2013 | |
| 167 | 6 September 2013 | |
| 168 | 23 September 2013 | |
| 169 | 25 September 2013 | |
| 170 | 27 September 2013 | |
| 171 | 27 September 2013 | |
| 172 | 20 November 2013 | |
| 173 | 25 November 2013 | |
| 174 | 6 December 2013 | |
| 175 | 14 January 2014 | |
| 176 | 15 January 2014 | |
| 177 | 20 February 2014 | |
| 178 | 3 April 2014 | |
| 179 | 3 July 2014 | |
| 180 | 19 September 2014 | |
| 181 | 27 September 2014 | |
| 182 | 25 March 2015 | |
| 183 | 2 April 2015 | |
| 184 | 23 May 2015 | |
| 185 | 20 January 2016 | |
| 186 | 12 April 2016 | |
| 187 | 8 July 2016 | |
| 188 | 20 June 2017 | |
| 189 | 21 November 2018 | |
| 190 | 17 January 2019 | |
| 191 | 24 February 2021 | |
| 192 | 6 December 2023[6] | |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963-04-02 | Further information:Egypt–Mongolia relations Diplomatic relations between Egypt and Mongolia were established in 1964.[7]Cairo currently hosts Mongolia's only embassy on theAfrican continent.[8][9] In 2001, Mongolia sent policemen to Egypt to attend trainings sessions on anti-terrorism and the prevention ofdrug trafficking.[10]Mongolian PresidentNatsagiin Bagabandi and his wife Azadsurengiin Oyunbileg paid an official visit to Egypt in April 2004, during which he invitedEgyptian PresidentHosni Mubarak to pay him a return visit in Mongolia.[11] Almost exactly one year later,Egyptian Foreign MinisterAhmed Aboul Gheit visited Mongolia, during which he began the planning of mutual visits of the ministers of finance of the two countries.[12] Bilateral relations between Mongolia and Egypt(in Mongolian) |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1973-11-30[1] | Further information:Canada–Mongolia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on November 30, 1973. Canada is represented in Mongolia through its embassy inUlaanbaatar. Mongolia has an embassy inOttawa, and in 2002 opened an honorary consulate in Toronto. Though Canada and Mongolia established diplomatic ties in 1973,ad hoc linkages and minor activities occurred between the two countries mainly through the Canada-Mongolia Society, which disbanded in 1980. When Mongolia formed a democratic government in 1991 after the collapse of theSoviet Union, Canada began to support Mongolia with donor activities through theInternational Development Research Centre,Canadian International Development Agency and severalnon-governmental organizations.[13] | |
| 1975-09-24 | Further information:Mexico–Mongolia relations In October 2001, Mexican PresidentVicente Fox paid an official visit to Mongolia.[14]
| |
| 2003-06-17[1] | ||
| 2021-02-24[21] | ||
| 1987-01-27[1] | Further information:Mongolia–United States relations The U.S. government recognized Mongolia in January 1987 and established its first embassy in Ulaanbaatar in June 1988. It formally opened in September 1988. The first U.S. ambassador to Mongolia, Richard L. Williams, was not a resident there. Joseph E. Lake, the first resident ambassador, arrived in July 1990. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III visited Mongolia in August 1990, and again in July 1991. Mongolia accredited its first ambassador to the United States in March 1989. Secretary of StateMadeleine Albright visited Mongolia in May 1998, and Prime Minister Enkhbayar visited Washington in November 2001. Deputy Secretary of StateRichard L. Armitage visited Mongolia in January 2004, and President Bagabandi came to Washington for a meeting with PresidentGeorge W. Bush in July 2004. President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice visited Mongolia in November 2005. It was the first ever visit of a U.S. President to Mongolia.[22][23] Defense SecretaryDonald Rumsfeld visited in October 2005 and Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert visited Mongolia in August 2005. Agriculture Secretary Johanns led a presidential delegation in July 2006 in conjunction with Mongolia's celebration of its 800th anniversary. President Enkhbayar visited the White House in October 2007 and the two presidents signed the Millennium Challenge Compact for Mongolia. In 2008, theIRS presented a discussion of US Federal income tax to Director General Zorig Luvsandash from the General Department of National Taxation of the Republic of Mongolia. In August 2011,Joe Biden made the first visit to Mongolia by a sittingU.S. Vice President sinceHenry Wallace toured the region in 1944.[24] |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1949-10-16[1] | Further information:People's Republic of China – Mongolia relations In the Post–Cold War era, China has taken major steps to normalize its relationship with Mongolia, emphasizing its respect for Mongolia's sovereignty and independence. In 1994,Chinese PremierLi Peng signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation.[25] China has become Mongolia's biggest trade partner and source offoreign investment as well as the destination for 48% of Mongolian exports.[26] Bilateral trade reachedUS$1.13 billion by the first nine months of 2007, registering an increase of 90% from 2006.[27] China offered to allow the use of itsTianjin port to give Mongolia and its goods access to trade with theAsia Pacific region.[26] China also expanded its investments in Mongolia's mining industries, seeking to develop the country's natural resources industry.[26][27] Mongolia and China have stepped up cooperation on fightingterrorism and bolstering regional security. China is likely to support Mongolia's membership in to the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD),Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and granting itobserver status in theShanghai Cooperation Organisation.[26] | |
| none | Main article:Mongolia–Taiwan relations As the Republic of China did not recognize Mongolia until 1945, both countries did not exchange any diplomats between 1946 and 1949, and Mongolia recognized the People's Republic of China in 1949, there have never been formal diplomatic relations betweenMongolia and theRepublic of China. Until the 1990s, theRepublic of China still consideredMongolia part of its territory. TheRepublic of China (currently onTaiwan) has not renounced claim to Mongolia as one of its provinces, primarily out of concern that such a move would be viewed as a precursor to renouncing sovereignty over all of Mainland China andTaiwan independence. In 2002 several ROC officials and government agencies passed laws and made strong statements recognizing Mongolia's sovereignty over the area (unofficially). "Outer Mongolia" was removed from the ROC's official maps and a representative office was established in Ulaanbaatar. Citizens of the Republic of China may travel to Mongolia usingRepublic of China passports (as is the case for most countries except the PRC), but Mongolian visas are stapled into (and not applied directly onto) the passport and Mongolian immigration authorities stamp the stapled visa instead of the passport. This is also the case for Hong Kong visas and entry/exit stamps. | |
| 1972-02-24[1] | Main article:Japan–Mongolia relations Japan has been a major ally of Mongolia since the advent of democracy in 1991, and remains the largest single donor. Japanese aid and loans to Mongolia between 1991 and 2003 equal $1.2 billion, equaling 70 percent of total aid and loans. The two countries established a cultural exchange dialogue in 1974, a trade agreement in 1990, an air relations agreement in 1993, and an investment agreement in 2003. Trade between Mongolia and Japan in the first ten months of 2004 was $83.3 million. In addition, about 500 Mongolian students study in Japan. Mongolian PresidentTsakhiagiin Elbegdorj visited Japan in 2011, and the two countries made a joint announcement regarding a strategic alliance. In 1991, Japanese Prime MinisterToshiki Kaifu visited Mongolia, becoming the first to do so. Mongolian PresidentNatsagiin Bagabandi first visited Japan in 1998. Mongolia has an embassy inTokyo, established in 1973. Japan has an embassy inUlaanbaatar. | |
| 1948-10-15[1] | Further information:Mongolia – North Korea relations Mongolia has an embassy in North Korea. Relations date back to 1948, whenMongolia recognisedKim Il Sung'sSoviet-backed government in the North.North Korean refugees are a delicate issue between the two governments. In 2005, South Korean charity groups received from the Mongolian government an allocation of 1.3 square kilometres of land at an unspecified location 40 kilometres outside of Ulaanbaatar to establish a refugee camp.[28] However, as of November 2006,Miyeegombyn Enkhbold,Mongolia's prime minister, officially denied the existence of such camps. One scholar estimated that 500 North Korean refugees enter Mongolia each month, along with some legalmigrant labourers who come under an inter-governmental agreement to work in light industry and infrastructure projects.[29] | |
| 1990-03-26[1] | Further information:Mongolia – South Korea relations Mongolians in South Korea form the largest population of Mongolian citizens abroad.[1]. Their numbers were estimated at 33,000 as of 2008. South Korea established an embassy inUlaanbaatar in 1990.[30] Mongolia established its embassy inSeoul in 1991. The relationship between the two countries has been defined by the Joint Mongolia-South Korean notice made during the visit of South Korean presidentKim Dae-jung to Mongolia in 1990. |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1960-11-30[1] | ||
| 1956-12-21[4] | Main article:Indonesia–Mongolia relations
| |
| 1971-09-08[1] | Mongolia did not present an ambassador to Malaysia for seven years due to themurder of a Mongolian citizen in the country, but later decided to appoint an ambassador in 2014.[36] | |
| 1970-06-11[1] | Main article:Mongolia–Singapore relations | |
| 1954-11-17[1] | The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1954.[39] Mongolia has an embassy in Vietnam. The countries signed a Friendship and Cooperation Treaty in 1961, renewed it in 1979, and signed a new one in 1995.[39] On 13 January 2003, the countries signed an 8-point cooperative document committing to cooperation between the two governments and their legislative bodies, replacing an earlier document signed in 1998.[40] |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1962-02-01[1] | In December 2013 Mongolia re-established its embassy inKabul.[41][42] | |
| 1955-12-24[1] | Further information:India–Mongolia relations India established diplomatic relations in December 1955. India was the first country outside the Soviet bloc to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. Since then, there have been treaties of mutual friendship and cooperation between the two countries in 1973, 1994, 2001 and 2004. |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-02-11[1] | ||
| ||
| 1992-01-22[1] | Mongolia has an embassy inAstana and a consulate general inAlmaty. Kazakhstan has an embassy inUlaanbaatar. EthnicKazakhs make up the only significant ethnic minority in Mongolia. | |
| 1992-04-22[1] | Further information:Kyrgyzstan–Mongolia relations Mongolian presidentTsakhiagiin Elbegdorj made an official visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2012.
| |
| 1998-01-21[1] | In 2020, Mongolia signed a memorandum of understanding withQatar to establish political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of both the countries.[44] | |
| 1921-11-05[1] | Further information:Mongolia–Russia relations Relations betweenMongolia and theRussian Federation have been traditionally strong since theCommunist era, whenSoviet Russia was the closest ally of theMongolian People's Republic. Russia has anembassy inUlaanbaatar and two consulate generals (inDarkhan andErdenet). Mongolia has anembassy in Moscow, three consulate generals (inIrkutsk,Kyzyl andUlan Ude), and a branch inYekaterinburg. Both countries are full members of theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (Russia is a participating state, while Mongolia is a partner). After the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Mongolia developed relations with the new independent states. Links withRussia and other republics were essential to contribute to stabilisation of the Mongolian economy. The primary difficulties in developing fruitful coordination occurred because these new states were experiencing the same political and economic restructuring as Mongolia. Despite these difficulties, Mongolia and Russia successfully negotiated both a 1991 Joint Declaration of Cooperation and a bilateral trade agreement. This was followed by a 1993 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation[25] establishing a new basis of equality in the relationship. Mongolian President Bagabandi visitedMoscow in 1999, and Russian PresidentVladimir Putin visited Mongolia in 2000[25] in order to sign the 25-point Ulaanbaatar Declaration, reaffirming Mongol-Russian friendship and cooperation on numerous economic and political issues. Putin visited Mongolia in September 2024, his first trip to an ICC member country since the court issued an arrest warrant for him over war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. Despite ICC obligations to detain him, Mongolia did not publicly respond to these calls.[45] | |
| 1967-07-31[1] | Ties between Mongolia and Syria were established on July 31, 1967, when both countries had socialist governments. Mongolian delegates (from the then-rulingMongolian People's Revolutionary Party) traveled to Syria in 1978, 1982, and 1985, while Syrian (Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party) delegates visited Mongolia in 1983 and 1986. Bilateral relations between Mongolia and Syria(in Mongolian) | |
| 1992-04-24[1] |
| |
| 1969-06-24[1] | SeeMongolia–Turkey relations
| |
| 1992-01-25[1] |
|
Mongolia seeks closer relations with countries inEurope and hopes to receive most-favoured-nation status from theEuropean Union (EU). During 1991, Mongolia signed investment promotion and protection agreements withGermany andFrance and an economic cooperation agreement with theUnited Kingdom. Germany continued former East German cooperative programs and also provided loans and aid.
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1989-08-01[1] | ||
| 1963-07-01[1] |
| |
| 1971-07-08[1] | The Benelux (Belgium,Luxembourg, and theNetherlands) is represented in Mongolia through embassies inBeijing (China). Mongolia has an embassy inBrussels. | |
| 1950-04-22[1] | Further information:Bulgaria–Mongolia relations Bulgaria has an embassy inUlaanbaatar. Mongolia has an embassy inSofia. Diplomatic relations between the two counties were first initiated on 22 April 1950. Due to the similar ideological situation in both countries, their relations witnessed a steady development up until the 1990s. Bilateral relations somewhat deteriorated for the next ten years. Since 2001, they have been on a more positive track, with Bulgarian presidentGeorgi Parvanov making an official visit to Ulaanbaatar in the summer of 2007. Until the beginning of the 1990s Bulgaria was Mongolia's 3rd biggest trading partner. Agricultural products and light industry goods were the main exports. Due to the subsequent economical and political changes in both countries the volume of trade shrank considerably. The volume of trade between Bulgaria and Mongolia totaled $2 million for 2008, with the main exporter being Bulgaria.[49] | |
| ||
| 1973-12-19[1] | ||
| 1993-01-01[1] | Further information:Czech Republic – Mongolia relations Diplomatic relations between Mongolia andCzechoslovakia commenced on 25 April 1950. In the 1980s, Czechoslovakia was Mongolia's second-largest trading partner, behind theSoviet Union. After the 1992dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Mongolia reaffirmed its relations with the newly formedCzech Republic in 1993.[54] However, in the 1990s, trade volumes declined sharply, though the Czech Republic still accounts for about 1% of Mongolia's imports. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ulaanbaatar was formally reopened in 1999.[55] As of 2005, annual bilateral trade between the two countries was valued atUS$5 million.[56] The Czech government has also been involved in various water supply development programs in Mongolia. | |
| 1968-08-05[1] |
| |
Further information:France–Mongolia relations
| ||
| 1974-01-31[1] | Further information:Germany – Mongolia relations Mongolia established ties with the Federal Republic of Germany in 1974, with embassies inUlaanbaatar andBerlin | |
| 1967-03-03[1] | Greece is represented in Mongolia through its embassy inBeijing (China). Mongolia is represented in Greece through its embassy inSofia (Bulgaria) and an honorary consulate inAthens. | |
| 1950-04-28[1] | Hungary has an embassy inUlaanbaatar. Mongolia has an embassy inBudapest.[59] | |
| ||
| none | Mongolia does not recognize Kosovo as a country. | |
| 1972-03-06[1] | The Benelux (Belgium,Luxembourg, and theNetherlands) is represented in Mongolia through embassies inBeijing (China). Mongolia has an honorary consulate inBreda. | |
| 1950-04-14[1] | Further information:Mongolia–Poland relations Mongolia has an embassy inWarsaw and an honorary consulate inKraków. Poland has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar and an honorary consulate inErdenet. | |
| ||
| 1950-04-29[1] |
| |
| none[62] | ||
| ||
| ||
| 1992-01-21[1] |
| |
| 1963-01-23[1] | Further information:Mongolia–United Kingdom relations Mongolia establisheddiplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 23 January 1963.[63]
Both countries share common membership of theInternational Criminal Court, theUnited Nations, and theWorld Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Air Services Agreement,[66] a Development Partnership,[67] a Double Taxation Agreement,[68] and an Investment Agreement.[69] |
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972-09-15[1] | Main article:Australia–Mongolia relations The Mongolian Consulate was established inCanberra in March 1997. An embassy was established in October 2008.[70]Sükhbaataryn Batbold became the first head of government to visit Australia in 2011. Australia opened its embassy in Ulaanbaatar in December 2015.[71] |
AsDB,ASEAN (observer),ASEM,CICA,ESCAP,FAO,G-77,IAEA,IBRD,ICAO,ICCt,ICFTU,ICRM,IDA,IFAD,IFC,IFRCS,ILO,IMF,IMO,Intelsat,Interpol,IOC,ISO,ITU,NAM,OPCW,OSCE,UN,UNCTAD,UNESCO,UNIDO,UPU,WCO,WHO,WIPO,WMO,WToO,WTrO,SCO (observer)
Mongolia did not join the UN until 1961 because of repeated threats to veto by theRepublic of China, which considered Mongolia to be part of its territory (seeChina and the United Nations).
Mongolia has been a member ofThe Forum of Small States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992.[72]