China exports Xi Jinping Thought to Mongolia www.intellinews.com

Two key works promoting Xi Jinping Thought have been translated into Cyrillic Mongolian and released in Mongolia. Beijing presents the move as a gesture of cultural exchange and an effort to share its governance model with Mongolians. However, many view it as an effort by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to spread propaganda and expand its influence in the country. Still, most Mongolians believe the books are unlikely to overcome centuries of deep-rooted mistrust toward China.
On December 2, 2024, Mongolia hosted the launch of the Cyrillic Mongolian editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume II) and Xi Jinping's Excerpts on Poverty Alleviation, in tandem with a governance seminar in Ulaanbaatar. The event marked the 75th anniversary of China-Mongolia diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the countries’ strategic partnership. Meanwhile, CCP mouthpiece Global Times framed the occasion as an effort to enhance mutual understanding and offer Mongolia a guidebook on Xi Jinping’s governance philosophy and China’s poverty reduction strategies.
Officials and scholars from both countries spoke at the event, while Mongolian Deputy Parliamentary Chairman Khurelbaatar Bulgantuya and State Secretary Adiyasuren Davaajargal praised China’s modernisation and poverty alleviation efforts. This is a common theme at events orchestrated by the CCP, where officials from developing countries often reference the claim that the Party lifted 800 million Chinese out of poverty. However, this oft-cited “economic miracle” fails to acknowledge that the reason China had 800 million people living in poverty in the first place was the ill effects of communism—and the way Beijing lifted people out of poverty was by relaxing communism and allowing private enterprise. That process began in 1978, shortly after the death of Mao Zedong.The percentage growth of China’s per capita GDP from 1978 until today is astronomical—it has risen from $156 per year in 1978 to $12,500 today, translating to an expansion of 7,913% (see above).
Mongolia, after the collapse of the USSR in 1990, transitioned to both a multi-party democracy and a free-market capitalist system. As a result, its GDP per capita rose from $472 in 1990 to $5,838 today, an increase of approximately 1,136.4% (see below). While the percentage growth is smaller than China’s, Mongolia’s economic progress is still nothing short of miraculous.
What’s more, China didn’t surpass GDP per capita of $5,000 until 2011. The point is, there may not be much that China can teach Mongolia about poverty alleviation. Mongolia already has a higher level of capitalism than China. China's advantages lie in factors Mongolia simply can’t replicate: a much larger population, more international borders (China shares land borders with 14 countries, while Mongolia has only two neighbours—Russia and China), and crucially, access to the sea. Mongolia is landlocked. And there’s nothing in Xi Jinping’s writings that will change any of that.
The books were translated and published in Cyrillic Mongolian—the official writing system of independent Mongolia—despite the government’s recent push to revive traditional Mongolian script. While there are roughly 50% more ethnic Mongols living in China than in Mongolia, the choice of Cyrillic suggests that Beijing was specifically targeting the Mongolian public. Ethnic Mongols in China typically read and write in either traditional Mongolian script or simplified Chinese, and they have already gained access to Xi Jinping’s works in those languages.
Just before the books were released in Mongolia, the CCP’s International Department held an event in China showcasing development progress in Inner Mongolia. The event emphasised Xi Jinping’s leadership in driving regional revitalisation and high-quality development, with Inner Mongolia’s Party leaders reaffirming their commitment to his policies. As is always the case, CCP media reported that international diplomats, political leaders, and business representatives praised China’s economic achievements and viewed Xi’s development model as a reference point for developing nations. However, people in developing nations—particularly in Mongolia—do not necessarily agree.
Amarsanaa Erdenebileg, a Mongolian business school graduate from Ulaanbaatar, acknowledged that the release of Xi Jinping’s books in Cyrillic Mongolian could be an attempt to expand Chinese ideological influence in Mongolia. However, he noted that Mongolians have historically held a deep mistrust of China, and this initiative might ultimately fail. “We have always been sceptical of Chinese influence attempts,” he said, adding, “therefore, it may backfire on China’s attempt to influence.”
When asked whether Mongolians would actually read the books, Amarsanaa admitted that some people would. However, he was doubtful about any meaningful impact. “I believe it won’t affect much,” he said. He explained that while there are some in Mongolia who think the country would be better off aligning more closely with China, there are also many who strongly oppose Chinese influence. “There are those who believe that Mongolia is better off following China,” he said, “and there are those who really hate China.” Ultimately, he suggested that the book release is unlikely to significantly change Mongolian attitudes toward China. He concluded by saying, “We are way more educated than we were before. We’ll learn what we need to learn—but we won’t be influenced.”
Chinguun Batsaik, who lives in Ulaanbaatar, offered a different perspective, arguing that China already has influence in Mongolia. “In fact, I believe they have already established a powerful influence in terms of commerce and an economic standpoint,” he said. While the release of Xi’s books in Cyrillic Mongolian may be seen as an ideological push, Chinguun suggested that China's real power in Mongolia lies in its economic presence rather than its political messaging.
Bat-Amgalan Enkhtaivan offered a nuanced perspective, highlighting the broader geopolitical context—particularly Mongolia’s delicate position amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He noted that maintaining neutrality could become increasingly difficult if global tensions escalate. “Russia’s aggressive assertions are a significant concern for Mongolia as well. Therefore, any movement made by the Mongolian government is critical and complex,” he noted.
The release of Xi’s works in Cyrillic Mongolian is a strategic move by the CCP to extend its ideological and political influence into Mongolia. This aligns with Beijing’s longstanding use of soft power to shape narratives in foreign countries.
Traditionally, Mongolia has balanced its relations with China and Russia while strengthening ties with Western democracies, including the United States, Japan and South Korea. At the same time, it is working to reduce its economic dependence on China, which accounts for over 80% of its exports—mainly coal and minerals.
From Moscow’s perspective, China’s move may be seen as encroaching on its traditional sphere of influence. Though Beijing and Moscow maintain close ties, they have historically competed for leverage in Mongolia. With Russia distracted by the war in Ukraine, Beijing may see this as an opportune moment to consolidate its position.
While China’s push to export its governance model is notable, the conclusion has to be its actual impact is likely to be limited. Deep-rooted distrust of China and Mongolia’s commitment to its “third neighbour” policy will continue to constrain Beijing’s soft power ambitions.
BY:
Antonio Graceffo, PhD, China-MBA, is an economist and China analyst. He has spent over 20 years living in Asia, including seven years in China, three in Taiwan and four in Mongolia. He conducted post-doctoral studies in international trade at the School of Economics, Shanghai University, and holds a PhD from Shanghai University of Sport, and a China-MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University. Antonio has authored seven books on Asia, with a focus on the Chinese economy.

International Open Tender for the Tuul Highway Reopens www.montsame.mn

The international open tender for the construction of the Tuul Highway was launched on January 27, 2025, with submissions and materials being verified within the set timeframe in accordance with relevant laws. However, due to bidders not meeting the requirements, the open tender for the Tuul Highway reopened.
The construction of the Tuul Highway is one of the major projects to expand and develop the road network of Ulaanbaatar and alleviate the traffic congestion. With its construction, the average traffic speed is estimated to increase by 14 percent, and passengers would be able to travel non-stop on the 32km highway, which is an international expressway with no traffic lights.
This six-lane Tuul Highway is planned to run 32 km, starting from the Bayanzurkh checkpoint or Ulaanbaatar-Nalaikh Highway on the east part of Ulaanbaatar City, to the safety roundabout that leads to the Western aimags. 
Within the scope of this Project, a road network that runs around the Capital City will be built with two main intersections of different levels, 13 bridges with a length of 9870 meters in total, and seven tunnels with a length of 370 meters in total.

Law on Mining Products Exchange to Be Withdrawn www.montsame.mn

Mongolia's Air Treatment Systems Market Sees Over 5% Growth Boosted by Pollution Awareness www.finance.yahoo.com

Mongolia aims to have a population of 5 million by 2050 www.news.mn

The Mongolian population has been decreasing steadily in recent years. According to the information of Mongolian Statistics Committee, 57300 mothers gave birth in 2024. This is a decrease of more than 10 percent from the previous year.
Mongolia’s long-term development policy aims to have a population of 5 million by 2050. If the annual population growth exceeds 1.7 percent per year, Mongolia will reach the goal. But based on current indicators, Mongolia’s population will not reach the level by 2050.
The decreasing birth rate has many causes. One of these causes is that women of reproductive age are having children later. Experts say that the birth rate is expected to decline further by 2030. In Mongolia, a family with 2–3 children is considered a large family. As of today, there are 167 thousand families with three or more children.

International Open Tender for the Thermal Power Plant No. 5 to Be Announced in May www.montsame.mn

The Thermal Power Plant No. 5 with a capacity of 340 Gcal of heat and 300MW of electricity will be built in the 20th khoroo of Bayangol district, Ulaanbaatar.
Governor of the Capital City of Mongolia and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Nyambaatar Khishgee remarked, “Ulaanbaatar has not built a single power plant in 41 years since 1984, resulting in the slow urbanization of the city. Therefore, preparations have been made to announce an international open bid for the Thermal Power Plant No. 5 (TPP-5) in May 2025 to increase the heat supply in the western part of Ulaanbaatar. An environmental impact assessment has been conducted, and the feasibility study has been revised. The new feasibility study concluded that the initially planned 10 hectares of land are insufficient for the construction of the power plant. With the additional land acquisition, the TPP-5 Project will be implemented on 15 hectares.
Enterprises and organizations affected by the land acquisition will be compensated or provided with equivalent land in accordance with the Land Law of Mongolia. The construction of TPP-5 will provide heat to Tavan Shar, 21st district, “Khilchin” Town, Tolgoit, Bayangolyn Am, Bayankhoshuu, the 1st, 3rd, and 4th districts. Approximately 51 thousand households will be provided with central heating.
Moreover, the Ulaanbaatar City Engineering Plant includes the expansion of the “Amgalan” TPP to improve heat supply to the eastern part of the city and significantly reduce the load on TPP 4.

Non-Resident Ambassadors to Mongolia Present Letters of Credence to the President of Mongolia www.montsame.mn

On April 21, 2025, non-resident Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of foreign countries to Mongolia presented their Letters of Credence to President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Mongolia Soeung Rathchavy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of Burkina Faso to Mongolia Daouda Bitié, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Mongolia Vahe Gevorgyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Zambia to Mongolia Ivan Zyuulu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Republic of Tanzania to Mongolia Khamis Omar, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Mongolia Vebjørn Dysvik presented their Letters of Credence to President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. President Khurelsukh expressed congratulations to the non-resident Ambassadors on assuming their duties and wished them success. 
The Head of State of Mongolia expressed confidence that the Ambassadors would strive to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation, and affirmed that the State and Government of Mongolia would provide full support in this regard. President Khurelsukh emphasized Mongolia’s commitment to enhancing cooperation within the international community, including the United Nations and other international organizations.

Reviving the Steppe: Mongolia's Living Laboratory for Combating Desertification www.undp.org

Nearly eighty percent of Mongolia’s land is degraded, that is nearly twice as much as the global rate. This stark reality places the country at the center of one of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges—desertification. As grasslands give way to dust and livelihoods are pushed to the brink, Mongolia is a powerful example of both the severity of land degradation and the real, replicable solutions to reverse it.
That is why, in 2026, Mongolia will host the 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), a crucial global forum to accelerate action against desertification, land degradation, and drought. This recognition reflects not only the scale of the country’s land degradation, but also Mongolia’s growing voice in the global movement to restore ecosystems and protect the communities who depend on them.
Mongolia is home to some of the world’s most fragile rangelands, with desertification threatening biodiversity, rural livelihoods, and food security. In response, the country has launched bold initiatives, like the “Billion Tree” campaign to restore degraded ecosystems and the successful effort to designate 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, approved by the United Nations. By hosting COP17, Mongolia is offering its land, experience, and solutions to the world.
UNDP Mongolia
One such experience can be found in Mongolia’s Research and Experimental Station for Desertification Mitigation in Elsentasarkhai, strategically located between the grassland and the desert. Established in 2011, this unique 45-hectare site, one of the only three in the country, is reshaping how the country approaches desertification by becoming the testing ground for land restoration and sustainable land management solutions. 
Supported by UNDP’s “Sustainable Land Management to Combat Desertification” project (2008–2012),  funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Government of the Netherlands, the Station has grown from a modest outpost into a living laboratory for scalable, community-adapted solutions. With support from the project, the Station was equipped with essential infrastructure—including a training center, solar panels, and a transport vehicle, as well as capacity-building training for staff. These contributions played a crucial role in ensuring the Station's sustainable operation over the past 14 years.
Here, science meets the soil, literally. The station tests everything from straw-based sand barriers that halt dune movement, to windbreak forest belts that reclaim degraded roadsides, to the cultivation of 21 rare and endangered native tree and shrub species. Each intervention is tested not in theory, but in the dry, wind-swept conditions that define much of Mongolia’s rangelands.
“We call it a station, but it is really a living laboratory,” says Dr. Khaulanbek Akhmadi, Senior Researcher of Desertification Study, Institute of Geography and Geoecology of Mongolia, and Adviser to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. He is also the Station’s founding lead scientist, who has been overseeing the operation since 2011. “Everything we try here is meant to work not just in theory, but in the real, harsh conditions herder communities face every day.”
The Station’s influence extends well beyond its physical boundaries. Its research directly informs Mongolia’s National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, feeds into major national efforts like the Billion Trees campaign, and provides a foundation for future climate-resilient planning.
UNDP Mongolia
One of the station’s successes has been the development of windbreak forest belts. Across a stretch of degraded land, rows of hardy native trees were planted in strategic patterns. These strips reduced wind speeds, enabling sand to accumulate and perennial grasses to re-establish themselves naturally, a proof that nature-based solutions can reverse the desert's advance.
“This is not just about planting trees,” says Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia. “It’s about piloting what works, proving it, and then scaling it through national leadership. This Station is the testing ground that feeds into Mongolia’s broader land restoration strategy.”
In another project, the station installed mechanical straw barriers across 10 hectares of shifting sand dunes spanning Bulgan, Uvurkhangai, and Tuv provinces. These simple but effective 1x1 meter grids stabilize sand for 3–4 years giving native vegetation a chance to reclaim the land. 
Training and public awareness are also core to the Station’s work. Through partnerships with local governments and conservation authorities, the Station regularly hosts workshops on land degradation monitoring, seed propagation, and environmental stewardship. For herders, local officials, and students, the station is more than a research site, it’s a place of learning and action.
“The station embodies the spirit of what we hope to showcase at UNCCD COP17,” says Her Excellency Chimguundari Navaan-Yunden, Ambassador-at-Large and Director of Mongolia’s COP17 Preparatory Office. “It is a model of how science, community, national government, and international cooperation can come together to address one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
UNDP Mongolia
The center’s operations are also climate-smart. Since 2011, it has operated a solar-powered deep well providing uninterrupted access to water for over a decade. Also, the Station takes advantage of energy generated by solar panels. This low-cost, low-maintenance solution allows it to operate more sustainably and clean compared to coal-based electricity-generating solutions. 
At a time when scientific and practical expertise in land degradation and desertification is needed more than ever, the Station is also emerging as a vital knowledge hub serving not only as a research site, but also as a learning ground for the next generation of scientists. It has supported over 40 research projects, including five international collaborations, and has attracted Master’s and PhD students from Mongolia and abroad, including from the Republic of Korea.
UNDP Mongolia
“We are grateful to see that the investments made by SDC and the Government of the Netherlands in our project have had a significant impact here,” says Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia. “The lessons from Elsentasarkhai extend far beyond its borders. This is a story of transformation of land, of knowledge, and of national capacity.”
As Mongolia prepares to host UNCCD COP17, the Station in Elsentasarkhai offers a concrete model for action grounded in science, driven by experience, and equipped with tried-and-true local solutions to inform global progress in sustainable land management. Its success reflects what is possible when local institutions are empowered, international partners collaborate meaningfully, and innovation is rooted in the realities of rural life.

Lukashenko Invites 150,000 Pakistanis To Work In Belarus Amid Labor Shortage www.rferl.org

In a rare moment of international visibility, Belarusian strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for an official visit to Minsk on April 10, hailing it as a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
The visit, which continued on April 11, resulted in multiple agreements spanning military cooperation, food security, and trade. Most notably, Lukashenko offered to accept up to 150,000 Pakistani workers to help address Belarus's deepening labor shortage.
For Lukashenko, whose presidency remains unrecognized by the West following the widely disputed 2020 election and subsequent brutal crackdown on dissent, any direct engagement with a foreign leader carries enormous symbolic and strategic value. Isolated diplomatically, shunned by the European Union and the United States, and increasingly reliant on Moscow, Lukashenko has few opportunities to present himself as a legitimate international actor.
"Pakistan has many people who want and are ready to work in Belarus," Lukashenko said during a joint press conference, emphasizing Belarus would create the "necessary conditions" for their employment. With more than 198,000 job vacancies reported across the country, the proposal aims to inject labor into an economy under pressure.
The move, however, raises alarm bells across neighboring European Union states.
The offer to import tens of thousands of Pakistani workers can certainly be viewed with suspicion in neighboring NATO member states Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
In a 2021-22 border crisis, Belarus was accused of using migrants as pawns in a political standoff with the EU. Belarus facilitated travel for migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia -- including Pakistan -- and directed them toward the EU's external borders, triggering a humanitarian and security crisis.
At the time, thousands of migrants were left stranded in forests along Belarus's borders with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, often with no food, shelter, or legal protection.
Belarusian authorities were accused of weaponizing migration in retaliation for Western sanctions.
Polish, Latvian, and Lithuanian border guards resorted to pushbacks, resulting in dozens of deaths, international condemnation, and an enduring mistrust of Minsk's migration policies.
During the visit, Belarus and Pakistan signed a military cooperation agreement and a roadmap for defense-industrial ties through 2027, deepening ties between the two countries, as well as other pacts and economic memoranda.
Notably absent from the spotlight, however, is any substantial record of recent trade volume.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry last reported annual bilateral trade with Pakistan for the year 2020, saying it ranged from $50 million to $65 million -- a far cry from a 2015 vow to grow trade between the two countries to $1 billion.
For comparison, Pakistan's primary trading partners in 2023 included China, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia; Belarus didn't make the list.
For Lukashenko, however, Sharif's visit may offer a diplomatic lifeline and a moment of validation. For the EU, it brings back memories of 2021-2022. It may be a warning sign that the authoritarian leader of Belarus could once again use people as leverage in his ongoing standoff with the West.

Two More Russia-Mongolia Border Logistics Terminals To Be Built In Buryatia www.russiaspivottoasia.com