The “Green labelling and Green financing” conference was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the EU-Switch Asia financed new project “Switching on the Green Economy”, implemented by People in Need. More than 300 women working in SMEs and businesses gathered to discuss green labelling and financing – vital tools to realize sustainable production and consumption in Mongolia.

The Switching On the Green Economy project aims to support 1,500 agri-food and beverage MSMEs, 30 agri-food and beverage business associations (BA), and 750 retailers in adopting circular economy practices through a market-based eco-labelling system. Also, at the centre of the project, is supporting women-led SMEs who often lead the way when it comes to clean, safe, and environmentally friendly business practices. “Research by UN Women, UN Environment, and many others show that empowered women are great entrepreneurs in areas like renewable energy and developing greener business models. When women are given skills and financial support, they are able to thrive. And, more often than not, if women succeed, they bring others with them,” said Axelle Nicaise, the EU Ambassador to Mongolia during her remarks to participants.

“Mongolia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7% over the next eight years. Yet, the Government of Mongolia recognizes that much work still needs to be done to achieve the ambitious targets in the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals” said Mr. B. Bat-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia

SUGGESTED QUOTE FROM TSERENDULAM: The Government of Mongolia, thanks to our partners like the European Union, is accelerating our green transition. This we cannot achieve alone. Working hand-in-hand with the private sector and communities, especially women leaders, is the key to building an inclusive green economy.

The “Green labelling and Green financing” conference is a critical learning opportunity for the Switching On the Green Economy project, funded by EU Switch Asia, as the women-led businesses are vital part to achieve the project goals, advance sustainable consumption and production and address climate change. “When it comes to tackling climate change and promoting sustainable consumption and production, we need to get the message out that women, like all of you here today, are key to shaping inclusive and sustainable development,” said Ambassador Nicaise.

Switching On the Green Economy Project is committed to finding sustainable solutions to address food security and climate change challenges – while also advancing gender equality.

About the project: The Switching On The Green Economy Project was designed, and is implemented, by People in Need (PIN) in the lead, together with Caritas Czech Republic INGO, the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association, and the Development Solutions NGO. In line with the country’s national strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7% by 2030, this is the first SWITCH-Asia project in the Agri-Food and Beverage Sector to be implemented in Mongolia

About Switch Asia: Launched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The overall objective of the programme is to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, contribute to the economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Asia and Central Asia and to a transition towards a low carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy. Learn more at: www.switch-asia.eu

The National Committee for Revival of Border Ports held its first meeting on 28 Oct 2022. Within the framework of implementing the Government's Resolution No. 362 of 5 Oct 2022, the issues of increasing the export volume of mineral products, which has a significant impact on Mongolia's budget revenue, and the country’s foreign currency reserves were discussed.

The Minister of Mongolia and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat, D. Amarbayasgalan, presented the urgent need to implement organizational measures to increase the number of vehicles transporting coal from the deposits of Tavantolgoi to the Tsagaankhad residential area.

The National Committee for Revival of Border Ports members ensures the coordination of long and short-distance transportation and follow the infection control regime strictly within the scope of increasing coal export. The Chinese side decides the number of trucks transporting coal that cross the border daily, but it can be increased if our side strictly follows the infection control regime. The committee members also noted the need to pay attention to truck drivers' work and living conditions, resolve the issues of infrastructure in the Tsagaankhad residential area, and build a hospital.

Special Representative of the Government for "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC, J. Ganbat, said that "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC could collect USD 500 million in revenue by the fourth quarter of 2022 by organizing export and transportation activities prudently.

The Chairman of the border port administration, S. Lkhachinjav, made a presentation on transport regulations of the Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint. In connection with the presentation, the Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat, D. Amarbayasgalan, said, "When renovating and developing the border checkpoint, it is important to resolve the social issues of the employees working there." The Minister of Road and Transport Development, S. Byambatsog, suggested, "The National Committee for Revival of Border Ports needs to focus on resolving the source of drinking water and electricity for the workers working at the border port and make it a residential area."

At the meeting, the members decided to submit a draft resolution on the measures to be taken regarding coal transportation from the deposits of Tavantolgoi to the Tsagaankhad residential area to the next Cabinet meeting for discussion.

Officials in Chinese cities and provinces across the country are pulling no punches in stamping out sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks as winter nears, quickly closing venues and enforcing longer temporary lockdowns on millions of people.

Cases in mainland China hit 2,898 on Sunday, topping 2,000 for a second straight day and pressuring the country’s controversial zero-COVID policy, which has hamstrung the economy and exasperated its citizens.

In Guangdong province, manufacturing centre Guangzhou has seen a spate of cases over the past week that has closed some districts. Haizhu’s 1.8 million residents, or about 10 percent of Guangzhou’s population, have been the worst hit.

Total cases in Guangzhou rose to 1,110 during October 24-30 from 402 in the previous seven-day period. The threat of a major lockdown would rattle the city and harken back to the nightmarish two-month lockdown Shanghai experienced a few months ago.

On Monday, Shanghai Disney Resort said it closed the entire resort from October 31 due to COVID prevention measures in the city.

Over the past week, authorities raced to get a handle on rising cases in Datong, Xining, Nanjing, Xian, Zhengzhou and Wuhan, forcing temporary lockdown measures in some neighbourhoods.

Lu Dongliang, secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Datong, rushed back from the party congress last week to access the “dire situation in the city” of more than one million.

Datong, which recorded 288 cases from October 27 to 30, has enforced stricter isolation and management of hotels, key industries and its railway. Some officials in the city have been punished for lax enforcement of COVID rules, according to local media reports.

As winter nears, northern cities, particularly those close to international borders, are seeing higher case numbers and could face new curbs.

Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang province, bordering North Korea, extended the temporary lockdown of some areas, according to local media reports. Dandong, Suihua, and Ruili – cities close to North Korea, Russia and Myanmar borders respectively – are experiencing outbreaks.

On October 27-28, 2022, the Institute of Asian Studies of the Charles University in Prague organized an international conference on "Internal and external relationships influence on the Mongolian language and culture".

The conference was opened by Mr. Gansukh Damdin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Slovak Republic, and Vice-Dean Daniel Berounsky from Charles University`s Faculty of Philosophy. In his speech, the ambassador thanked the staff of Charles University for supporting Mongolian studies and organizing the international Mongolian Studies Conference in Prague after 30 years.

In his speech, Mr. Gansukh Damdin mentioned “The Government of Mongolia in its "Vision 2050” long-term policy document is pursuing a policy of building unified national values, creating the immunity of the Mongolian language, history, and cultural heritage, and then intensively developing Mongolian studies on the international stage”. He also commended the efforts of Mongolists and scholars to spread Mongolian studies and promote them internationally.

“Mongolia is paying attention to the training of young Mongolists and implementing an annual summer school program for them. For example, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia spearheaded an initiative of marking the International Day of Mongolian Studies and made the ‘Award named after the Minister of Foreign Affair’ for the best work of young researchers available from 2023”, he added.

About 40 Mongolists and scholars from more than 10 countries including Mongolia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Qatar, and Romania participated in the conference. They gave presentations on more than 30 topics.

The Embassy of Mongolia in Slovakia opened the "Khot Mandal-Secret Mantra Temple" photo exhibition and welcomed the delegates to the Mongolian Ger /yurt/.

At least eight Mongolian provinces are likely to experience the extreme wintry weather "dzud" this winter, local media reported on Sunday, citing official sources.

"Out of all the 21 Mongolian provinces, at least eight provinces, namely Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Zavkhan, Khovd and Govi-Altai in the west, Bayankongor in the south-west, as well as Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai in the center are likely to experience dzud or near-dzud conditions this winter," the country's Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry said in a statement.

A dzud is a brutal weather phenomenon in which a dry summer followed by a frigid winter kills vast numbers of livestock, either by starvation or freezing temperatures.

According to the ministry, the government has stored 15,500 tons of hay and 4,800 tons of fodder for livestock to help them overcome the possible harsh winter.

The livestock sector is a central pillar of the Mongolian economy, while the country's livestock population totaled 67.3 million by the end of 2021.

In 2016, a dzud killed more than 1 million livestock in Mongolia, a nation where pastoral herding is still common.

In pursuit of their joint interests and shared values, Japan, Mongolia, and the United States held a trilateral meeting on October 28, 2022, in Tokyo. The three sides discussed a wide range of regional security challenges, economic issues, and areas for cooperation. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to strong ties with each other, and dedication to their visions for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan and the United States expressed their support for Mongolia’s democracy and Third Neighbor policy.

Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asia and Oceania Bureau Director General Funakoshi Takehiro, Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Nyamdorj Ankhbayar, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mark Lambert participated in the meeting.

Japan, Mongolia, and the United States emphasized the importance of international law, including the United Nations Charter and the principles of sovereign equality, respect for the independence and territorial integrity of states, and prohibition of the threat or use of force. To this end, the three sides expressed concern over the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The three sides also expressed deep concern about the risk of nuclear weapons use and the deteriorated international security environment, and also called on all states to affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

Japan, Mongolia and the United States expressed their respective views regarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) continued development of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, including the unprecedented number of ballistic missiles launched in 2022. All sides underlined the necessity of resuming dialogue, and called on the DPRK to fully comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and to engage in dialogue. All sides also emphasized the importance of the international community fully implementing relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Japan emphasized the need for an immediate resolution of the abductions issue and thanked the United States and Mongolia for their continued support on this issue.

The three sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining the rules-based international order, including the principles and the purposes of the United Nations Charter. All sides strongly opposed attempts by any party to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in any region, and they emphasized the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful means.

Japan, Mongolia, and the United States shared their respective visions for regional development, including in the Indo-Pacific, and exchanged views on how to cooperate to ensure a prosperous and peaceful future. All sides concurred to work together to promote the rule of law, peaceful resolution of disputes, human rights, environmental protection, and economic development. Japan and the United States expressed their appreciation for Mongolia’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and continued stability operations in conflict zones worldwide. All sides expressed an intention to continue defense cooperation and joint training exercises.

Japan, Mongolia, and the United States discussed economic challenges the international community is facing as a result of regional and global shocks. All sides emphasized the importance of strengthening the international economic order to counter new challenges, such as economic coercion. All sides underscored their desire to deepen their economic partnership, including through enhanced collaboration on renewable energy, climate change, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, intellectual property rights, and digital development. They discussed the importance of improving Mongolia’s business climate and ability to attract investment, particularly from Japan and the United States. Japan and the United States discussed their development projects in Mongolia and ways to enhance the mutual complementarity of such projects and their impact on furthering Mongolia’s economic development. In particular, Mongolia and the United States briefed Japan on their joint $462 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Water Compact, which will expand Ulaanbaatar’s water availability by 80 percent. Mongolia expressed appreciation for Japan’s enduring Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. Japan and Mongolia highlighted their recent cooperation on Chinggis Khaan International Airport, constructed using Japanese ODA and operated by a Mongolia-Japan joint company, to increase the regional connectivity of Mongolia and realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has reached a deal with a major generating company to provide $970 million to fund the construction of the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR). The announcement was made by Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Tuesday.

“We are doing this because nuclear energy – as a non-emitting source of energy – is critical to the achievement of Canada's and the world's climate goals…

Nuclear power is one source that can help in reaching our climate targets while addressing growing future demand,” Wilkinson said about the deal, as cited by Reuters.

Canada intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, and views SMR technology as a key part of this aim.

The funding for the project will come in the form of a low-interest loan from the CIB, which will go toward the preparatory work, including project design and site preparation, Wilkinson added.

The reactor itself will be designed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and is expected to supply electricity to about 300,000 homes, according to Ontario Power Generation, the recipient of the loan for the project. It says it expects the project to be completed by 2030, while site preparation will start later this year.

SMRs are nuclear reactors that are smaller than traditional nuclear power plants. Unlike the latter, SMRs can be constructed in factories and then transported to be assembled on a site about the size of two soccer fields.

The size of these reactors does not reduce their efficiency, however. Each SMR is reportedly capable of producing enough energy to power about one million homes – the same as produced by 150 onshore wind turbines.

According to the World Nuclear Association, 15% of Canada’s energy currently comes from nuclear power plants.

The Mongolian Association for Chinese studies has been established to boost mutual understanding in areas such as translation, education, and more cultural communications, the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) announced at the inaugural ceremony on Wednesday.

Co-hosted by the BLCU, the Mongolian Embassy in China and other organizations, the establishment of the association will not only provide more convenience for Mongolian Sinologists when conducting their research, but will also to give chances for future doctorate students to be tutored by Sinologists from both Mongolia and China during their studying careers.

The association discussed topics including building a database for Mongolian Sinologists and collecting all the paper works as well as the academic works they’ve composed. In addition, more Sinology works will be republished across Mongolia after being revised by experts from both countries.

“Since as early as the 1920s, there have been many experts doing Chinese studies. And for the past hundred years, many articles concerning the cultural communications between the two countries have been created and shown to the world,” E. Sarantsetseg, director of Chinese Studies at Ulaanbaatar State University, said at the ceremony via video link. “The establishment of the database has set a foundation for experts and Sinologists to conduct further studies,” he added.

The association has invited 21 Mongolian scholars and experts who have made achievements in Chinese studies. “With the establishment of the database, the academic workshops as well as the re-publication of the classics and more mutual communication can be achieved in the future,” said B.Dorj, vice-principal of the National University of Mongolia.

Ever since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2014, Mongolia, with its natural advantages along the ancient Silk Road, has developed cooperative relations with China in areas such as medical care and construction of the economic corridor. The establishment of this association will “surely help boost both education as well as the translation industries of both sides,” said E. Nomin, a member of the academic committee at Otgontenger University.

The World Association for Chinese Studies (WACS) was established in July this year. Nearly 5,000 Sinologists from 103 countries have since been connected to the association, and 67 different kinds of languages have been recorded as well.