A court session of the case of the Development Bank which is connected with high officials of the State has started today. The court session is organized in closed mode and the proposal for delays has been submitted.

In particular, defendants have excuses such as having classes, foreign visits, requests of changing lawyers, just having a new lawyer, and health issues.

At today’s trial, a total of 191 participants including prosecuting attorneys, defendants, representatives of victim companies and lawyers have arrived. The case has 80 defendants.

By the request of defendants and their lawyers, the trial has been postponed to April 17.

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has kicked off its annual parliamentary session, announcing a modest target for economic growth of about 5 percent.

The session, which began in Beijing on Sunday, is also set to hand President Xi Jinping a third term in office and implement the biggest government shake-up in a decade.

Outgoing Premier Li Keqiang opened the meeting at 9am (01:00 GMT), reading out a work report that said it was essential to prioritise economic stability and set a goal of economic growth at “around 5 percent”, one of the country’s lowest in decades.

The report also announced a target of creating about 12 million urban jobs this year, up from last year’s mark of at least 11 million.

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by just 3 percent last year, one of its worst showings in decades, squeezed by three years of COVID-19 restrictions, the crisis in its vast property sector, a crackdown on private enterprise and weakening demand for Chinese exports.

“Global inflation remains high, global economic and trade growth is losing steam, and external attempts to suppress and contain China are escalating,” Li said during his speech to open the parliament, which will run through March 13.

“At home, the foundation for stable growth needs to be consolidated, insufficient demand remains a pronounced problem, and the expectations of private investors and businesses are unstable,” he said.

The Chinese government also set a budget deficit target of 3 percent of GDP, according to the report, widening from a goal of approximately 2.8 percent last year.

Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said the economy was “front and centre” for the NPC this year. “The GDP target of 5 percent is on the lower end of what was expected, but that means that we’re not likely to see any aggressive stimulus measures. Instead, Beijing is going to focus on stabilising the economy,” she said.

The NPC opened on a smoggy day amid tight security in the Chinese capital, with 2,948 delegates gathered in the cavernous Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square.

It is the first NPC meeting since China abruptly dropped its zero-COVID policy in December, following rare nationwide protests.

Globally, China faces numerous headwinds, including worsening relations with the United States, which is trying to block its access to cutting-edge technologies, and fraught ties with Western Europe, a crucial trading partner, over Beijing’s diplomatic support for Russia in its war in Ukraine.

Li, in his work report, said China’s armed forces should devote greater energy to training under combat conditions and boost combat preparedness, and the budget included a 7.2 percent increase in defence spending this year, a slightly bigger increase than last year’s budgeted 7.1 percent rise and again exceeding expected GDP growth.

On Taiwan, Li struck a moderate tone, saying China should promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance the process of China’s “peaceful reunification”, but also take resolute steps to oppose Taiwan’s independence.

Al Jazeera’s Yu said the rise in defence spending would equate to $224bn and said it indicated that China was “rather nervous and concerned when it looks at the geopolitical security situation”.

“The outgoing premier did mention in his speech that military preparedness is going to be a focus for China’s People’s Liberation Army going forward this year. It’s particularly concerned looking at its own back yard, specifically with Taiwan,” she said.

“China is also working to expand and boost its military activities and presence in the South China Sea and looking further abroad, Beijing was also concerned and watching closely the situation in Ukraine, as well as the situation in the Korean Peninsula,” she added.

This year’s parliamentary session will see Li and a slate of more reform-oriented economic policy officials step aside, making way for loyalists to Xi, who further tightened his grip on power when he secured a precedent-breaking third term as the Communist Party’s general secretary during its Congress in October.

During the NPC, former Shanghai party chief Li Qiang, a longtime Xi ally, is expected to be confirmed as premier, tasked with reinvigorating the world’s second-largest economy.

The rubber-stamp parliament will also discuss Xi’s plans for an “intensive” and “wide-ranging” reorganisation of state and Communist Party entities, state media reported on Tuesday, with analysts expecting a further deepening of Communist Party penetration of state bodies.

Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London, said Xi now had an opportunity to flaunt his response to the pressure created by last year’s unrest.

“He acted decisively when the protests included calls for him and the CCP to step down. He quashed them and removed the basic cause,” he told the AFP news agency.

“He can present himself as leading from the front, rather than being pushed to react.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

On January 29th, we met with Mr. Miroslav Bobek, the Director of the Prague Zoo, in Hustain Nuruu. We discussed the tragedy and eventual recovery of Przewalski's horses, the Prague Zoo’s ongoing projects, and new initiatives being implemented by the zoo.

Mr. Bobek is a zoologist who graduated from Charles University in Prague. Since 2010, he is serving as the Prague Zoo's director. In addition to being a zoologist, journalist, publisher, and author, Mr. Bobek is also the creator of numerous books, documentaries, and television shows about animals. He has also won renowned science and wildlife conservation awards. To name a few of his most recent accomplishments, he is in charge of initiatives such as the reintroduction of Przewalski's horses to their native land, Mongolia, and the conservation of gorillas in Cameron, Africa.

Under his direction, the Prague Zoo set a new annual visitor record, and information about rare and endangered animals became more widely available to the public. He first visited Mongolia in 2000 to conduct studies on animal migration. The President of Mongolia awarded Miroslav Bobek the “Medal of Friendship” in 2014 and the “Order of the Polar Star” in 2022 for his significant role in the reintroduction of Przewalski's horses to Mongolia.

Miroslav Bobek: "It's no accident that I became a zoologist, my grandfather was a hunter and my mother was a natural science teacher. I believe that all of this influenced me to choose a career related to the animal world."

The fourth project to reintroduce Przewalski's horses to Mongolia will take place in Eastern Mongolia

- The purpose of our trip to Mongolia this time is to work in the new location chosen for the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses, as well as to meet with Mongolian officials and discuss this new project. Przewalski’s horses were reintroduced and are now reproducing in three other locations, Hustain Nuruu, Gobi’s “B” territory, and Khomyn Tal. Currently, there are no Przewalski’s horses in Eastern Mongolia. We chose Sumiin Khooloi in Khalkh Gol Sum of Dornod province in Eastern Mongolia as the site of our fourth reintroduction project after conducting in-depth fieldwork, biological research, and geographic analysis on the distribution of the animals, the yield of plants, species, pastures, topography, parasites, winter weather, and other factors. We are planning on signing the last necessary documents with the Mongolian side soon. Afterward, other important tasks, such as funding and transportation will begin. To start, we are planning domestic transportation of Przewalski’s horses to the east of Mongolia (the first transportation work from the Hustain Nuruu to Khalkh Gol is scheduled to be finished by 2026), followed by transportation of a number of Przewalski’s horses from the Czech Republic.

The majority of the funding will be provided by the Prague Zoo, and we'll coordinate efforts to secure additional funding from other sources. While in Mongolia this time, we met with the Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, the Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, and the Governor of Dornod province. We conclude that the meetings were effective. They all warmly support the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses in Dornod province. This project is anticipated to be advantageous to all parties.

From Prague to Khomyn Tal and to Takhiin Tal

-For the past twelve years, our zoo has been actively working on the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses. Shortly after I was appointed as the director of the zoo, I visited a center where horses are trained for transportation to other locations; it was located 100 km from Prague. Two gates were there, one containing mares and the other stallions. The director of the center informed me that it was planned to transport these horses to Mongolia, but the transportation was cut off at that time and it was unclear when it would resume, so they were waiting. After learning about this, I told the director that I will arrange the transportation of these horses, which took the director by surprise.

There was news that approximately 50% of the previously transported horses had passed away due to severe weather conditions during those years. So I soon began looking for an aircraft to complete the transportation work in the quickest amount of time feasible. Because of our zoo's difficult financial status at the time, we were unable to rent a commercial airplane. So we went to meet with the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, explained our predicament to them, asking if they might assist. They agreed to fly us there using one of their aircraft. Petr Pavel, who was the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces at the time, was elected President of the Czech Republic yesterday (28th of January). In May 2011, a military CASA aircraft flew the first Przewalski’s horse mares to Mongolia and landed at the Khovd provincial airport. Four mares were driven to Khomyn Tal from there in a car. The other mares were then transported from Khovd airport to Bulgan airport, where they were then sent to the "B" territory of the Gobi. Seeing these horses today thrive and graze in the countryside makes us incredibly proud. I recall the most emotional moment when we opened the crate and the Przewalski’s horses stepped out, with happiness after many hours of work and a 20-hour aircraft flight to arrive in Mongolia. We transported a total of 34 Przewalski’s horses to Khomyn Tal and Gobi’s “B” territory between 2011 and 2019 via 9 different shipments. One of our biggest accomplishments is this. Transportation is one thing, but the support and assistance for them to live in the wild is the most crucial component. We are therefore working on providing the preservationists with a comfortable environment, transportation, and support for their research.

The blood of the Przewalski’s horses from our Zoo is running through the bodies of many horses in Mongolia...

-You all might get surprised. There isn't a single horse that was born in the Prague Zoo in Hustain Nuruu, where we are right now. There was one... but it is no longer here.

However, this does not negate the Prague Zoo’s contribution to the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses in Hustain Nuruu. Our zoo was involved in the projects from the beginning by donating our horses, and the chosen horses were settled in Mongolia. Hence, it can be claimed that the horses still carry a little amount of the blood of the Prague Zoo horses because the majority of the horses from the first generation to settle in Mongolia were from Prague. All of the horses that our zoo sent to Mongolia were not born at the Prague Zoo; rather, they were transported to Prague from various locations in Europe where horses are found and were then chosen to be transported. For generations, the horses in our Prague Zoo have been considered to be the healthiest and most genetically fit. Hence, horses from our zoo have been selected from the very beginning when Przewalski’s horses were first reintroduced to Mongolia, their native land.

“Little Mongolia” will open soon

May I surprise you again? Right now there are not any Przewalski’s horses on the territory of the Prague Zoo. Besides our Prague Zoo, five horses are placed in another site, and thirty horses are in a center where horses are trained for transportation to other locations. The reason for this is that we are currently trying to build a "Little Mongolia" that will depict the steppes and meadows of Mongolia in the area of the Prague Zoo where the Przewalski’s horses used to live. In other words, the visitors, who are coming to see the horses will not only learn about their history, their life in the wild, and their biology, but they will also learn about the steppes and meadows of Mongolia, how they were reintroduced to Mongolia and much more all in one setting. We believe that this will present several opportunities to increase scientifically based understanding of Przewalski’s horses while also promoting Mongolia and the horses around the world.

To be completely honest, our Prague Zoo does not rank among the best zoos in terms of territory size, funding, animal population, or species diversity. Yet we do rank in the top 10 zoos with the best living conditions for the animals.

The Prague Zoo is a place that has contributed the most to the rescue of the Przewalski’s horses, which were transported to Europe, from the danger of extinction over the years, and is still taking a leading role in reintroducing the horses to their homeland. Therefore, in 2021, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums awarded the WAZA Conservation Award to the Prague Zoo for its "long-term contribution to the rescue of the Przewalski’s horses". "It was a great honor for us" Mr. M. Bobek recalled.

The introduction of Przewalski’s horses to the Prague Zoo dates back to the 1930s. In 1934, the zoo bought its first Przewalski’s horse from a wildlife dealer. Subsequently, in 1959, the reintroduction of the horse to its native land was initiated by the director of the zoo at that time, Professor Zdeněk Veselovský and Yuri Wolf. After more than 30 years, this initiative became a reality. Several Przewalski’s horses from the Prague Zoo were among the Przewalski’s horses that were brought back to Mongolia in 1992. Because the zoos in Prague and Munich housed the healthiest and most genetically fit horses in Europe.

Mr. M. Bobek noted that, along with the reintroduction projects, the Prague Zoo has been involved in the protection of the Mongolian Saiga antelope and the Mongolian wild Bactrian camel in recent years, and is providing financial assistance to implement projects.

B. Dulamdorj

ION Energy Ltd. told investors it has restarted water well drilling at the Urgakh Naran lithium project, in Mongolia.

The company, which aims to specialise in lithium brine exploration and development, in a statement said that three water wells have so far been drilled at the project, for a total of 682 metres of drilling, to return lithium values.

Drill holes UNWH-01 and UNWH-02 were each drilled to a depth of 300 metres, whilst UNWH-03 currently at 82 metres and is continuing.

“Having previously reported strong results from the lithological holes, the company is now pleased to share that we are completing our third water well at the highly encouraging Urgakh Naran project,” said chief executive Ali Haji.

“Until recently, ION’s team had anticipated not being able to return to the site and resume this phase of our drilling program until much warmer weather, later in March.”

“We’re excited to already be in possession of the equipment necessary for bailer sampling, pump testing and hydrogeological testing, to advance the inferred resource calculations at Urgakh Naran.”

Sampling work is expected to start in the field in the coming weeks, the company added.

Additionally, ION noted that it had raised an additional C$40,000 of capital, through the placing of 100,000 new shares priced at 40 cents each. Meanwhile, certain consultants and insiders of the company were granted an aggregate of 2.07 million incentive stock options, vesting at 30 cents each for up to two years.

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit the northern Mongolian province of Khuvsgul on Saturday morning, according to the country's Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.

The quake occurred around 87 km northwest of Ulaan-Uul soum division of the province at 9:18 a.m. local time (0118 GMT), the institute said.

The quake was felt across the province, and there is no immediate report of damage, it added.

Australia said all decisions on foreign investment are made in its national interest and it expects trade talks with China to continue, after reports Beijing had protested Canberra’s decision to block a Chinese investment in a rare earths mining company.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday he had blocked a Chinese investor from raising its stake in a rare earths mining company this month on the advice of the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Australia blocked Yuxiao Fund, which is the Singapore-registered private company of Chinese mining investor Yuxiao Wu, from raising its ownership of Northern Minerals to 19.9% from 9.92% on “national interest” grounds, the Australian miner told Reuters.

The South China Morning Post reported China had protested the decision, citing unnamed sources.

“All investment decisions are made in Australia’s interests and within the regulatory framework,” a spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement to Reuters on Friday.

China’s embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Relations between the two countries have been improving after a years-long diplomatic freeze, with Australia asking China to remove unofficial “trade blockages” on its exports.

China is pressing for Australia to drop its complaints over Beijing’s sanctions on barley and wine at the World Trade Organization.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang discussed bilateral trade impediments on Thursday on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, the statement said.

“The Australian Government looks forward to continued engagement,” it said.

Wong told reporters after the meeting “both parties can grow our bilateral relationship while safeguarding our national interests, if we both navigate our differences wisely.”

Australia has previously said it would become more selective about who it lets invest in its critical minerals industry, amid concern about monopolies.

Northern Minerals plans to become the first significant world producer of dysprosium, a key component for magnets for electric vehicles, outside China which controls 94% of supply.

(By Kirsty Needham; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

What do Bray, Mongolia, Lake Bacalar in Mexico, and Burlington, Vermont have in common? Well, according to the travel writers and editors of Time Out Magazine they are all among the most underrated travel destinations in the world.

Tasked with creating a list of 14 hidden gems across the globe, the venerable publication created a list spanning everything “from tiny islands and seaside towns to massive lakes and whole countries” with “legitimate hidden gems” which offer “great alternatives to popular spots in the same region”.

Illustrating the high regard in which Time Out holds Bray, the number one hidden destination on the list was an entire country, east Asian nation Mongolia.

Known for its traditional gers (yurts), friendly nomadic people, and herds of wild horses stomping across untouched steppes, Mongolia has to be experienced to be believed. With a new international airport and affordable local-led tours, this seemingly far-flung country is more accessible than you’d expect. For a perfect introduction to the country, spend a couple of days in the capital, Ulaanbaatar – it’s surprisingly clustered and easy to explore – then take in the picture-perfect ranges and fresh mountain air of Gorkhi Terelj National Park. Stay the night under the stars in your own ger and don’t be surprised if nomadic herders stop by to welcome you.

Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai paid a four-day working visit to South Korea from February 14-18. Since establishing a strategic partnerships in 2021, Ulaanbaatar and Seoul have made efforts to bolster economic relations, particularly in mineral extraction, tourism, and urban development.

On February 15, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received the Mongolian delegation led by Oyun-Erdene. The Mongolian prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Khurelbaatar Chimid, Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister of Construction and Urban Development Davaasuren Tserenpil, Minister of Culture Nomin Chinat, and others.

Oyun-Erdene’s visit to Seoul marked the first time in 12 years that a Mongolian prime minister had visited South Korea. During the meetings of the heads of government, Han highlighted the significance of Mongolia-South Korea bilateral relations within Seoul’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

For his part, Oyun-Erdene emphasized the importance of South Korea as both a trading partner and a gateway through which landlocked Mongolia could send its goods farther abroad. “We see South Korea as one of our customers, and the newly signed agreement between our two countries will help Mongolia trade globally through seaports such as Busan,” he told Reuters.

These high-level bilateral meetings are meant to activate Mongolia-South Korea economic activities, increase investments, and deepen cultural ties.

South Korea is one of Mongolia’s closest “third neighbors” in the region. Trade, tourism, cultural exchanges, and educational cooperation with South Korea all intersect with and have a direct impact on Mongolian society.

The Mongolian delegation’s agenda in Seoul largely circled around Mongolia’s long-term development plan, Vision 2050, and the Oyun-Erdene administration’s post-COVID-19 New Revival Policy. Mongolia and South Korea signed six new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several new components that will enrich their strategic partnership.

According to the office of the Mongolian prime minister, Mongolia and South Korea have agreed to start negotiations on an economic partnership agreement between the two countries. They also agreed to cooperate in the supply chain of rare metals; cooperate on mitigating climate change; boost their militaries’ information sharing and capability enhancement; support cultural activities, programs, and content creation; and lastly, cooperate in urban planning and development projects.

In 2021, during an online summit between Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and the then-president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, the two leaders agreed to advance cooperation in mineral extraction, which can be utilized to support South Korea’s high-tech industry. Mongolia’s rich natural resources, such as copper, tin, nickel, and molybdenum have the potential to be exported to South Korea and beyond.

On a broader scale, such cooperation can assist South Korea’s supply chain issues, while Mongolia can gain an export outlet to the rest of the world using the Busan seaport. “I believe Busan could serve as a sea gate for Mongolia,” Oyun-Erdene told the Korea Herald.

“Plans are under review to create a research team to continue our cooperation with Busan as a sea transit open for Mongolia.”

In addition to expanding Mongolia-South Korea’s cooperation in mineral extraction, Oyun-Erdene invited South Korean investors to take part in urban planning and development of a new satellite city on the outskirts of the newly built international airport in the Khoshig Valley. According to a December 2022 Technical Assistance Report from the Asian Development Bank, “The proposed satellite city aims to attract residents, public services, and economic activities currently overconcentrated in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimated the total cost of the project to be $200 million, of which the ADB would provide $100 million and the Mongolian government would provide $50 million. The remaining $50 million is expected to come from “cofinancing [loans and/or grants] from development partners” – possibly including South Korea – for a total of $45 million and “at least $5 million” in funds “mobilized from the private sector and capital market.”

The idea behind creating satellite cities and towns is to relieve Ulaanbaatar’s overpopulation. In addition, if these newly established communities and urban projects adopt green initiatives and environmentally friendly solutions, this could be an added benefit for Mongolia, providing an opportunity to attract investment in renewable energy.

From Mongolia’s foreign policy and economic perspective, strong economic ties with South Korea, particularly in Mongolia’s traditional strength of exporting natural resources, can assist Ulaanbaatar to establish multiple economic corridors. Each corridor will serve as an integral part of the national economy.

While mineral trade and urban development are included in the recent MOUs, newer initiatives such as content creation, culture, and education can also have a positive impact on Mongolia’s non-mining sectors. Mongolia also supported South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan, which has been a key goal for both the previous Moon and current Yoon administrations.

GUEST AUTHOR

Bolor Lkhaajav

Bolor Lkhaajav is a researcher specializing in Mongolia, China, Russia, Japan, East Asia, and the Americas. She holds an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies from the University of San Francisco.