Special Strategic Partnership with Japan reaffirmed www.ubpost.mn

President U.Khurelsukh received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who paid an official visit to Mongolia, with the two sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the countries’ “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.”

President U.Khurelsukh said the visit by Japan’s Foreign Minister reflects the high level to which bilateral relations have developed, stressing that Japan, as one of Mongolia’s key “third neighbors” and a country sharing common democratic values, remains an important priority of Mongolia’s foreign policy. The president highlighted the state visit to Mongolia by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in 2025, including their attendance as guests of honor at the opening of the National Naadam Festival, describing the historic visit as an important milestone in bilateral relations. He asked Foreign Minister Motegi to convey his warm greetings to Their Majesties.

President U.Khurelsukh also expressed Mongolia’s appreciation to successive Japanese governments and the Japanese people for their longstanding contribution to Mongolia’s transition to a market economy, as well as to the country’s democratic development, protection of human rights and freedoms, and social and economic stability. The two sides welcomed the agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport through a concessional loan from the Government of Japan, describing the airport as a major symbol of bilateral cooperation. Foreign Minister Motegi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to implementing the 2022-2031 Action Plan under the Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and to further expanding and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi also paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the Parliament S.Byambatsogt who emphasized that deepening friendly relations and cooperation with Japan, a third neighbor with shared democratic values, is one of Mongolia’s foreign-policy priorities. The two sides noted the important role played by relations between the Mongolian and Japanese parliaments in strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation. They agreed to regularize reciprocal parliamentary visits and further strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ parliamentary friendship groups.

S.Byambatsogt welcomed Japan’s work toward expanding Chinggis Khaan International Airport and increasing its capacity through an official development assistance yen loan. Recalling his tenure as Minister of Road and Transport, S.Byambatsogt said Mongolia’s air transport liberalization policy had contributed to a three- to fourfold increase in passenger traffic and direct flight frequencies in 2023, while airfares declined by about threefold. Domestic flights that had previously been suspended were also restored, with services now reaching eight provinces, primarily benefiting elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities.

He noted that the number of passengers using Chinggis Khaan International Airport had increased from about 600,000 in 2022 to roughly four times that level in 2025, placing increasing pressure on the airport’s capacity. S.Byambatsogt further proposed transferring domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport, saying the move could provide faster and more affordable access for some 60,000 Mongolian citizens, particularly elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities. The speaker also emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties as a key pillar of the Mongolia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership.

He noted that under the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, more than 5,700 categories of Mongolian goods have access to the Japanese market duty-free. However, he said Mongolia’s exports to Japan have declined from their 2015 level due to various challenges, underscoring the need for greater joint efforts to create a more balanced trade relationship. S.Byambatsogt also pointed to growing people-to-people ties, noting that around 21,000 Mongolian citizens are currently studying and working in Japan. He called on Japan to consider visa-free entry for Mongolian citizens making short-term visits to the country.

Foreign Minister Motegi said Japan seeks to further intensify trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the Special Strategic Partnership. He also confirmed that the Japanese government had reached an agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport using concessional financing under Japan’s official development assistance program.

The Japanese Foreign Minister also said he would give particular attention to the speaker’s proposals concerning the transfer of domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport and the possibility of visa-free travel for Mongolian citizens visiting Japan for short periods. The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation, including learning from the respective experiences of the two governments and parliaments and incorporating relevant practices into legislative work, ensuring that the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement reach businesses and citizens more directly, and issues related to the double taxation agreement.

Who is Happier — Mongolia or Russia? www.open.kg

The World Happiness Report for 2026 has been officially published, presenting an updated ranking of countries. According to this report, based on global Gallup surveys, Mongolia ranks 75th among 147 countries with a score of 5.936, while Russia is in 79th place with a result of 5.834. This study highlights that the residents of Mongolia rate their happiness higher than Russians, as noted by the author of MongolianNews.

Comparative Analysis of Happiness Factors

Although Mongolia and Russia are close in overall score, the key aspects that shape the feeling of happiness differ significantly.

1. GDP per capita
Russia demonstrates a higher level due to its rich natural resources and developed industrialization, which provides it with better economic indicators per capita. Mongolia, despite the development of its mining sector, still lags behind in this aspect.

2. Social Support
Mongolia benefits from strong familial ties and family values, allowing residents to feel more secure. In Russia, due to the peculiarities of life in megacities and social stresses, the level of trust among people is lower.

3. Healthy Life Expectancy
Here, Russia is slightly ahead due to a more developed healthcare system. Mongolia, while improving its indicators, faces challenges related to diseases and environmental pollution.

4. Freedom to Choose Life
Mongolia significantly outpaces Russia in this aspect, offering its citizens more opportunities for self-expression and business. In Russia, there are strict restrictions, leading to a sense of insecurity among citizens.

5. Generosity
Mongolians show a high degree of mutual assistance and willingness to help each other, especially in rural areas. In Russia, however, the index of charity and mutual aid is lower.

6. Perception of Corruption
In both countries, the situation with corruption raises serious concerns, but in Mongolia, residents have the opportunity to criticize and fight against it, which reduces psychological pressure compared to Russia, where corruption is deeply entrenched.

Research Conclusions

Despite Russia's superiority in economic potential and healthcare indicators, Mongolia significantly outperforms its neighbor in aspects of personal freedom, social atmosphere, and generosity. The sense of freedom and warm human relationships have become decisive factors that allowed Mongolia to take 75th place in the global ranking.

PM Uchral Urges Effective Implementation of Interim Trade Agreement www.montsame.mn

 Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk has paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Mongolia Uchral Nyam-Osor to discuss bilateral cooperation in transport, trade and the economy, as well as fuel and petroleum product supplies.

Prime Minister Uchral emphasized the importance of regularly reviewing and assessing the results of work carried out by the two sides. In particular, he called for efforts to remove obstacles to the effective implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union, which entered into force in July this year, and to ensure its effective implementation.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said the two sides had discussed in Minsk the possibility of developing a roadmap to ensure implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement.

“I fully support the proposal you have put forward. We will work in Mongolia and report the results of our work to the Prime Minister,” Overchuk said.

The two sides also agreed on the importance of ensuring reliable supplies of gasoline and petroleum products from Russia and effectively implementing the agreements reached at high-level bilateral meetings.

140 million trees planted under Mongolia’s Billion Trees national movement www.gogo.mn

A total of 140 million trees have been planted as part of Mongolia’s Billion Trees national movement, an initiative aimed at combating desertification and improving the country’s environment.

A new information system has been launched to provide comprehensive data on the progress and results of the Billion Trees national movement.

The system provides detailed information on tree-planting projects and programs implemented across Mongolia, including where and how many trees have been planted, the provinces and enterprises with the highest levels of participation, available planting stock, and the survival and growth of planted trees. The information is available in five United Nations official languages.

The platform was developed using more than five years of data collected by the Forest Agency under the government. The system is being continuously improved and updated in cooperation with the Forest Agency and young members of the “Billion Trees Movement” NGO.

Viet Nam seeks fresh momentum for relations with RoK, Mongolia www.en.qdnd.vn

The official visits to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Mongolia by President of the National Assembly (N.A.) Tran Thanh Man reaffirm Viet Nam’s commitment to further developing its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the RoK and Comprehensive Partnership with Mongolia in an increasingly substantive, effective and sustainable manner, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has said.

Talking to the press ahead of the visits, Vu said the trips, scheduled for September 6–11, are significant to implementing the foreign policy set out by the 14th National Party Congress and Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, while concretizing the orientations and agreements reached by Viet Nam's senior leaders with the two partners.

Vu said the fact that N.A. President Man is making his first official visits to the two countries in his current capacity demonstrates Viet Nam’s high regard for relations with the RoK and Mongolia, as well as the important role of parliamentary diplomacy.

The visit to the RoK, five years after the previous trip by a Vietnamese N.A. leader, will help implement the high-level commitments, including the joint statement on further enhancing the Viet Nam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. At the same time, the two sides are expected to promote cooperation in defense, security, the economy, trade, investment and labor, and expand ties into emerging fields such as strategic technologies and renewable energy.

For Mongolia, the visit is the first by a Vietnamese N.A. leader since 2003 and is expected to inject fresh momentum into the Comprehensive Partnership, particularly in areas with substantial potential, including trade, renewable energy, science – technology, culture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges, he added.

During the trips, the top legislator of Viet Nam and Korean and Mongolian leaders will discuss ways to strengthen substantive cooperation between the legislatures, including their specialized committees, parliamentary friendship groups, and young and women lawmakers. They are set to encourage their respective countries' governments to effectively implement the signed agreements, and bolster cooperation as well as mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums.

Vu noted that the RoK and Mongolia are both important partners of Viet Nam in Northeast Asia, with relations enjoying a solid political foundation and flourishing across various fields.

Viet Nam–RoK relations are currently at their best, he said. The two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. Political trust has been continuously strengthened through high- and all-level exchanges, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to the RoK in 2025 and the Korean President’s state visit to Viet Nam in April 2026.

The RoK is among Viet Nam’s leading trade, investment, labor and tourism partners. Their parliamentary ties have also grown strongly, with regular exchanges between NA leaders, specialized committees, parliamentary friendship groups, and young and women parliamentarians. A memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures was signed in November 2025.

Vu expressed his hope that the visit will improve the quality and effectiveness of bilateral ties, particularly in economic, trade and investment cooperation, and help leverage new growth drivers through science – technology, innovation and strategic technologies.

Regarding Mongolia, the deputy minister described it as a traditional friend and partner with longstanding ties with Viet Nam. The relationship reached a major milestone with General Secretary and President Lam’s visit in 2024, when the two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership.

However, economic cooperation and ties in other fields have yet to match the two sides' potential and sound political relations, he said, expressing his hope that the coming trip will create a new and more substantive impetus for bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation, along with the development and future of both countries.

The official also expected stronger connections following the trip in such fields as mining, education – training, trade, tourism, people-to-people exchanges and, especially, renewable energy. The visit is also anticipated to facilitate the sharing of legislative and governance experience and help translate the signed high-level agreements into concrete projects, programs and benefits for businesses and people.

It is set to expand bilateral cooperation at multilateral parliamentary forums, contributing to the responses to regional and global issues such as sustainable development, desertification prevention, climate change response, peace and security, the protection of women and children from the adverse impacts of technology, and other non-traditional security challenges.

Vu expressed his confidence that N.A. President Man’s visits will significantly help consolidate and expand the partnerships with the RoK and Mongolia, meeting the interests of the countries' peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Source: VNA

V. Putin: Russian-Mongolian Relations are Cemented by the Blood of Our Ancestors www.open.kg

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, a meeting took place between the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The main focus of the negotiations was on deepening strategic partnership, expanding trade ties, and modernizing infrastructure projects.
President Putin noted that the historical connections between the two countries remain strong:

“Our traditional friendly relations have grown into a full strategic partnership. Diplomatic relations have existed for 105 years, and their foundation was laid by the joint efforts of our ancestors who fought for Mongolia's freedom during the Great Patriotic War and at Khalkhin Gol. The Mongolian economy has developed with the active participation of our country,” said Putin.

Putin also expressed hope that the participation of the Mongolian delegation in the EEF-2026 would be an important step for further cooperation, adding that both sides would participate in the plenary session of the forum.

Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh confirmed Mongolia's commitment to deepening strategic relations with Russia. He emphasized the importance of implementing previously reached agreements, particularly those signed at the SCO summit in Bishkek. As an example of successful interaction, he mentioned the modernization of the Ulaanbaatar Railway and expressed readiness for new joint investment projects.

Furthermore, the parties noted a positive trend in trade: mutual trade turnover increased by 4.5% in the past year and by 18.1% in the first half of the current year. One of the factors contributing to this was the Temporary Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Mongolia, which came into effect in July.

Mongolia’s President at the SCO Summit www.thediplomat.com

For Mongolia, the highlights were the bilateral meetings held on the sidelines with Kyrgyzstan, China, and Russia.
Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan as the organization recognizes its 25th anniversary. While the SCO spent much of its existence focused on security and regional cooperation, the Bishkek Declaration demonstrates a much larger global agenda. Mongolia, in the new partner state status, is seeking deeper ties with SCO member states in emerging sectors via robust bilateral links.
For example, Khurelsukh and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, the summit’s host, held bilateral talks to accelerate political, economic, and trade relations under the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement that was signed during Khurelsukh’s state visit to Bishkek in 2025.  
Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan are aiming to boost regional trade turnover to $100 million. During Khurelsukh’s remarks, he noted the trade volume between the two countries had grown from $2.6 million in 2023 to $19 million as of 2025. The Mongolian side expressed interest in further Kyrgyz investments and joint projects in developing industries, minerals exploration, transport and logistics, and direct flights. 
Mongolia’s interim free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) creates additional trade opportunities for the two countries. Kyrgyzstan will be chairing the EAEU in 2027.
But there were more leaders in Bishkek than just Japarov. For Mongolia, the SCO Summit was a valuable opportunity for face-to-face diplomacy as the world faces major geopolitical and economic challenges. 
On August 31, Khurelsukh held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their meeting, Xi reiterated Beijing’s long-term support for Mongolia as close neighbors and promised to support “win-win cooperation.” 
Mongolia and China discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in emerging sectors such as green minerals, AI, digital economy, and supporting Mongolia’s efforts in combating desertification and climate issues. According to the Mongolian presidential office, Khurelsukh and Xi discussed several projects that are underway, including China’s support for the operation of the Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant, a long-stalled mega-project that received new life in 2022.
Xi and Khurelsukh also discussed the need to make progress on constructing the Shiveekhuren-Sekhee, Bichigt-Zuunkhatavch, Khangi-Mandal railways which are crucial to the countries’ bilateral economic activities.
Moreover, one of the most important discussion points was China’s willingness to continue exporting petroleum product supplies to Mongolia amid fuel shortages triggered by supply disruptions from Russia. The two sides are currently aiming for Mongolia to import 71,000 tons of petroleum product per month from China. 
More broadly, Xi promised to support Mongolia’s fuel industry, and cooperate in the exploration of oil and gas, a key priority for Mongolia as it seeks to address its energy dependencies. 
While China is a leading investor in Mongolia’s mining sector, it has yet to allocate investments into the renewable energy sector. Considering Mongolia’s push to transition to renewable energy and diversify its energy sources, Beijing’s contribution will be crucial in the coming years. 
Khurelsukh also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in Bishkek. During the meeting, Putin reiterated the historic links between Mongolia and Russia. He expressed hope that Ulaanbaatar’s interim free trade agreement with the EAEU will provide “preferential treatment for Mongolian traditional exports across the customs territory of our association.” 
Moreover, Putin highlighted that Mongolia – previously an observer in the SCO – now will receive “partner state” status. Last year, the SCO streamlined its various levels of participation to just two: full members and partner states. Mongolia thus became a partner state along with other states previously recognized as observer states. The debate on whether Mongolia should join the SCO as a full member has been a hot topic among scholars and policymakers in the last decade. 
The Khurelsukh-Putin summit was also attended by the Russian energy minister and president of Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear power corporation. Rosatom’s leader reportedly met with Mongolian partners to discuss small modular nuclear reactors as a way to diversify Mongolia’s energy mix.
According to Russia’s Pivot to Asia official website, “Mongolia is reviewing a proposal from the Russian state nuclear corporation to build a small modular nuclear reactor in the country, which may be built near New Kharkhorum, a planned new capital city located about 230 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar.”
Following Khurelsukh’s high-level meetings with both Xi and Putin, separately, Xi and Putin resumed high-stakes negotiations on the construction of Power of Siberia 2, a long-discussed gas pipeline that would bring LNG from Russia’s Yamal gas fields to China via Mongolia
According to Pipeline Technology Journal, “Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov confirmed Friday that the flagship energy project will feature prominently during talks in Bishkek.” Ushakov added that discussions will continue at the Eastern Economic Forum currently underway in Vladivostok, where Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will meet with Russian officials. 
Russia is keen to export more gas to China, and Mongolia has welcomed the construction of the pipeline. However, China has been driving a hard bargain on pricing, especially as it moves away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.
There was no China-Mongolia-Russia trilateral meeting scheduled in Bishkek. However, Mongolian Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor is in Vladivostok through September 4, so trilateral talks might be resumed there
The three heads of state gathered last year in Beijing shortly after the 2025 SCO summit in nearby Tianjin. At that meeting, Mongolia emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to jointly implementing the projects and programs outlined in the Economic Corridor Construction Program. 
As evidenced by the Bishkek Declaration, the SCO is setting itself up as a much larger player in global political, economic, and security arenas. As SCO member states encompass approximately 42 percent of the global population, SCO-linked global governance, multipolarity, and economic and trade are set to expand in the organization’s next 25 years. 
While Mongolia’s participation in this year’s SCO in Bishkek has been primarily economically motivated, Ulaanbaatar is aware of the shifts in global geopolitics. Mongolia engagement in the SCO is underpinned by its bilateral relationships: comprehensive strategic partnerships with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, coupled with strategic partnership frameworks with other SCO members such as India and Kazakhstan. In all of these relationship, Mongolia envisions greater cooperation in emerging critical sectors and seeks to strengthen the country’s political, economic, and cultural capital. Ulaanbaatar can achieve that through robust bilateral links without having to a commit to the SCO as an organization.

By Bolor Lkhaajav

Mongolia, Russia Agree to Boost Fuel, Energy, Infrastructure Ties www.montsame.mn

 Uchral Nyam-Osor, Prime Minister of Mongolia, is taking part in the 11th Eastern Economic Forum, currently underway in Vladivostok, Russia. On the sidelines of the forum, he paid a courtesy call to Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, yesterday.

Opening the meeting, President Putin thanked Prime Minister Uchral for accepting the invitation to the Eastern Economic Forum and for making the trip. He noted that relations between the two countries have a long history and that Mongolia is an important strategic partner for Russia in the Asia-Pacific region.

He also highlighted his meeting with Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of Mongolia on September 1, held on the sidelines of the expanded meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, where the two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to further deepening and enriching the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

“Trade turnover between our two countries grew by more than 4% last year. The Interim Agreement on trade between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its member states came into force in July. This will create favorable conditions for Mongolia to supply its goods and products to the EAEU market,” President Putin said.

While serving as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development, Prime Minister Uchral led the work on the Interim Free Trade Agreement with the EAEU, which set out key positive economic terms, including the elimination, reduction, and lowering of customs tariffs on Mongolian goods and products.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Uchral noted that developing good-neighbourly, friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia remains one of the priority directions of Mongolia’s foreign policy. He expressed satisfaction with the increasingly regular high-level talks and meetings between the two countries and said that, as Prime Minister, he would place particular importance on translating into concrete action the issues discussed at the level of the two heads of state.

The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in strategically important sectors such as energy, transport, infrastructure, mining, and agriculture, ensuring Mongolia’s fuel and energy security, the stable supply of petrol, fuel, and petroleum products, and developing the railway corridor linking Mongolia, Russia, and China, reaching a number of concrete decisions.

They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of specific bilateral economic cooperation projects and programmes awaiting resolution in the two countries’ fuel, energy, and mining sectors, including the joint study on Thermal Power Plant No. 3 and the Asgat mine, the project to supply natural gas to China via Mongolian territory, and fuel supply.

In addition, to ensure the successful implementation of the Interim Free Trade Agreement with the EAEU, the two sides agreed to cooperate on combating highly contagious animal diseases and on vaccination, issues that have been hindering growth in livestock-based exports.

The two sides agreed to continue working together to carry out practical cooperation projects going forward.

Mongolia bears brunt of Russia's fuel crunch, official says www.reuters.com

Mongolia, Russia's long-term trading partner, is ‌feeling the pinch of fuel shortages in its neighbour, the dominant supplier of gasoline and diesel, a Mongolian official told Reuters.
Media and Reuters witnesses reported long queues at petrol ​stations across the nation, which put curbs on sales of the ​fuel last month.
The gasoline and diesel shortages have spilled over from ⁠Russia, where Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries and high seasonal demand ​led to a fuel crunch.

"I know about the problem in Russia. However, the ​fuel price is rising for Mongolia," Bolorchuluun Tsendgombo, the director of the policy and planning department in Mongolia's food ministry, told Reuters.
Prices had risen to nearly $1.5 to $2 a litre, ​he added, from the rate during the spring, of roughly a dollar ​per litre, he added.
Russia's export ban on gasoline and diesel exempts countries, such as Mongolia, with ‌which ⁠it has inter-governmental pacts on fuel supplies.
Traders said Russian diesel fuel supplies to Mongolia rose by 7% to 1,05 million metric tons between January and July. Gasoline exports increased to 515,000 tons from 450,000 tons, while supplies of ​jet fuel fell 40% ​to 32,000 tonnes.

In ⁠July alone, Russia's motor fuel exports to Mongolia declined to 173,000 tons from 186,400 tons in June.
Mongolia may reduce ​imports of Russian grain due to a bigger expected ​harvest, after ⁠buying about 100,000 tons of its wheat last year, Tsendgombo added in remarks on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
On Wednesday President Vladimir Putin ⁠met ​Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral in the Russian ​far eastern city, hailing "traditional, friendly and neighbourly" ties as having now reached the level of a ​comprehensive strategic partnership.

Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Olesya Astakhova; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

Bank of Mongolia Purchases 3,058 kg of Precious Metals www.montsame.mn

The Bank of Mongolia purchased 3,058.0 kg of precious metals in August this year, according to the central bank.

Since the beginning of the year, the Bank of Mongolia has purchased 11.9 tonnes of precious metals from 93 licensed enterprises and 39 individual precious metal traders on a cumulative basis, representing a 54.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Of this, the Bank of Mongolia's branch in Darkhan-Uul aimag purchased 616 kg, while the branch in Bayankhongor aimag purchased 2,130.4 kg of precious metals.