Book Exchange Program Launched with U.S. Library of Congress www.montsame.mn

The library of the Mongolian National University of Education and the U.S. Library of Congress have officially launched a book exchange program. As a part of the program, Dr. Saruul-Erdene Myagmar, a Mongolian specialist at the U.S. Library of Congress, presented the first batch of 20 books to the university on May 11.

The books, focused on human intelligence, education, technology, ethics and social change, will be used in the university’s teaching and research activities. The collection includes works on educational studies, lifelong learning, social and cultural equality, psychology, neuroscience and consciousness studies, artificial intelligence, ethics, technology, science, economics, tourism, culture, mythology, humanities, philosophy, and critical thinking.

During the handover ceremony, Baatarsuren J., director of the university library, noted that the newly received books serve as valuable resources addressing “human-centered, ethical, and sustainable development” from multiple perspectives. He emphasized that the materials would strengthen research sources, promote interdisciplinary studies, enrich course content, and expand opportunities to apply contemporary theories in education. The books are also expected to help students develop critical thinking skills and broaden their competencies.

Since 2025, the university library has been collecting works related to the Mongol studies by Mongolian scholars and researchers and has so far sent 99 books to the Library of Congress.

The Mongolian collection the Library of Congress accepts donations of publications related to the Mongol studies, including translated works by foreign scholars on Mongol studies, Mongolian literature and literary studies, as well as complete multi-volume sets. However, works unrelated to Mongolian studies, books already held by the Library of Congress, and works of fiction are not accepted for donation.

China-Mongolia mega railway project enters critical phase www.chinadaily.com.cn

Construction on the China section of the second cross-border railway between China and Mongolia entered a critical phase on Sunday, paving the way for enhanced bilateral trade and connectivity.

Invested and constructed by the State-owned China Energy Investment Corp (CHN Energy), the railway features a combined single-line design accommodating both standard and broad gauges. A total of 760 T-girders will be installed along the entire route, the company said.

Scheduled for completion and operation in 2027, the project is expected to boast an annual freight capacity of 30 million metric tons, which will significantly deepen infrastructural interconnectivity and bolster economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

However, constructing the railway has posed immense engineering challenges. Located deep within the harsh Gobi Desert, the project site is plagued by frequent dust storms and year-round gales, making high-altitude lifting and girder installation highly demanding.

To ensure safety and quality, the project team has deployed a slew of intelligent equipment and innovative techniques, including fully automated rebar processing, advanced tensioning and grouting equipment, and hydraulic side-form systems combined with mobile pedestals to guarantee the precise prefabrication of the massive concrete structures.

To date, approximately 26 percent of the project's offline substructure has been completed, with 268 T-girders already precast. The entire girder erection phase is on track to be finished by October this year, keeping the mega-project steadily on schedule.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn

Mongolia’s Foreign Trade Turnover Reaches USD 10.5 Billion www.montsame.mn

Mongolia traded with 139 countries during the first four months of 2026, with total foreign trade turnover reaching USD 10.5 billion.

According to the National Statistics Office, exports amounted to USD 6.8 billion, while imports totalled USD 3.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 3.1 billion.

Compared to the same period last year, total foreign trade turnover increased by USD 2.7 billion, or 34.4%. Exports rose sharply by USD 2.6 billion, or 60.6%, while imports grew by USD 111.8 million, or 3.1%. The foreign trade balance increased 4.6 times, up by USD 2.5 billion year-on-year.

The rise in exports was primarily driven by strong growth in mineral commodity shipments. Exports of copper ores and concentrates increased by USD 1.7 billion, while coal exports grew by USD 730.4 million. Gold exports rose by USD 101.8 million, and exports of lead ores and concentrates increased by USD 26 million.

However, several export categories recorded declines during the period. Exports of refined copper and copper alloys fell by USD 18.7 million, while fluorspar ores and concentrates decreased by USD 9.7 million. Crude petroleum oil exports declined by USD 6.7 million, and horse meat exports dropped by USD 2.6 million.

Asiatic Wild Ass Returns to Eastern Mongolia After 65-year Isolation from Landscape Fencing www.goodnewsnetwork.org

The Asiatic wild ass, known locally as the khulan (Equus hemionus), has returned to eastern Mongolia and is showing clear signs of re-establishing a population after more than 65 years of absence from the region.

For decades, fencing along the Trans-Mongolian Railway (TMR) has restricted movement of khulan and other migratory species. Recent efforts to create safe crossing points are now allowing animals to move more freely across this barrier and recolonize their ancestral lands.

Collaborative efforts between Wildlife Conservation Society, the Mongolian government, and in-country private partners have seen the fencing taken down along several stretches of the railway, while also designating a monitored, “safe passage” zone last May near the China–Mongolia border—also free of fencing.

Findings published this Month in the journal Oryx show that the interventions are working, the animals are responding to them, and that the khulan are now regularly present in multiple groups east of the TMR.

Monitoring shows that crossings occurred in recent years, and follow-up surveys have since recorded hundreds of khulan on the eastern side. This suggests that khulan are not only passing through, but beginning to re-establish in the region.

“Documenting khulan crossing this long-standing barrier and beginning to re-establish in their former range represents an extraordinary conservation breakthrough,” said Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society who lead the study.

“It demonstrates that restoring connectivity in fragmented landscapes can support population recovery for wide-ranging species.”

The Mongolian Gobi supports the world’s largest khulan population—approximately 91,000 animals, more than 84% of the global total. The species nevertheless faces ongoing threats from habitat fragmentation, competition with livestock, illegal hunting, and climate change.

As one of the most wide-ranging terrestrial mammals, maintaining connectivity across this landscape is critical for khulan, allowing them to move between seasonal grazing areas and water sources in a highly variable and arid environment, and supporting the broader functioning and resilience of Mongolia’s steppe ecosystem.

“The return of khulan to eastern Mongolia reflects years of collaborative work with provincial authorities, border protection agencies, and railway managers, as well as careful testing of temporary fence gaps that showed wildlife could cross safely without increasing train collisions,” said Justine Shanti Alexander, WCS Mongolia Country Director.

MORE STEPPELAND STORIES: 100 Miles of Derelict Fencing Removed by Rewilders Across the Great Plains in Montana

WCS has advanced wildlife connectivity and khulan recolonization in eastern Mongolia through the vital support of several key partners, not least of which was the Mongolian government.

Plans are advancing for a new local protected area east of the railway to support long-term habitat security and khulan recolonization.

An unsubstantiated claim on Mongolia’s Wikipedia page suggests that after gaining independence, there was “enthusiasm to declare 100 percent of the country as a national park,” but that the country eventually settled on 30%—a marker that recently became an international standard.

The country currently protects 13% of its land and water, but a recent agreement with the Nature Conservancy will see that taken to 30% if all goes to plan.

Hoshoryu withdraws from summer tournament after Day 1 www.news.mn

Yokozuna Hoshoryu pulled out Monday from the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament after injuring his right hamstring in his opening bout the previous day. The 26-year-old grand champion limped from the ring and was carried in a wheelchair following his Day 1 loss to komusubi Takayasu at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Hoshoryu’s stablemaster said the Mongolian-born grappler had no option to remain in the tournament after being unable to walk later Sunday night.

“It seems like something snapped,” said stablemaster Tatsunami, formerly komusubi Asahiyutaka. “He had been in good shape and perhaps let his guard down. We are very sorry to all the fans.”

Hoshoryu’s withdrawal leaves just two of the five wrestlers currently occupying sumo’s top two ranks — ozeki Kirishima and Kotozakura — still competing in the 15-day meet.

Yokozuna Onosato is out of action with a nagging rotator cuff injury, while ozeki Aonishiki damaged his ankle while preparing for the tournament. Both announced their absence on Friday.

Hoshoryu, the nephew of Mongolian great Asashoryu, has withdrawn from a tournament for the eighth time in his career and the third time since his promotion to sumo’s highest rank in March last year. The two-time Emperor’s Cup winner has yet to lift the trophy as a yokozuna.

KYODO NEWS

Cabinet approves 7 strategic decisions to liberalize energy sector www.gogo.mn

Following its latest session, the Cabinet has announced seven key initiatives aimed at liberalizing the national energy sector and ensuring long-term stability. 

Timely completion of Selenge power plant: The 70 MW thermal power plant currently under construction in Selenge province via private investment will be prioritized to ensure it begins operations on schedule.

Acceleration of "Zes Oyu" Substation: Construction of the "Zes Oyu" (Copper Oyu) power transmission substation will be expedited to improve regional grid connectivity.

Emergency battery storage deployment: To mitigate the risk of power outages during peak demand hours, the government will fast-track the installation of advanced battery energy storage systems.

Domestic solar expansion: National companies will lead the construction and immediate commissioning of new solar power plants across five provinces to diversify the energy mix.

Efficiency-driven cost reductions: The Cabinet has mandated a 3% reduction in electricity and heat transmission and distribution costs, to be achieved through operational efficiencies in the short term.

Smart energy monitoring: A user-centered digital system will be launched, allowing citizens to monitor their real-time energy consumption directly via mobile devices.

Nationwide heat metering: A comprehensive project to install heat meters at every stage of the distribution network is scheduled for full implementation by the third quarter of 2026. 

Roundtable Recap | British Business Centre Ulaanbaatar “Frontier AI for Strategic Problem-Solving” — a working session, not a lecture www.britishbusinesscentre.com

Yesterday, (10 May 2026) at the British Business Centre: a roundtable working session on applying frontier AI to real strategic problems. 
The highlight — 
A live agentic AI demo on Perplexity, 
Showing how it combines real-time web research with multi-step reasoning in a single query. 
Ts.Tsend moderated and demonstrated throughout: 16 years in Mongolian and international mining and finance, with senior leadership in the international investment banking system (🏦BNP Paribas)
Next session: June 2026. Seats limited.
British Business Centre 976 77552002, 976 99066062

Government, Rio Tinto Agree to Resolve Unpaid Water Pollution Fees www.montsame.mn

Oyu Tolgoi LLC still has outstanding payments related to water use and water pollution fees, including MNT 4.8 billion required under an official directive issued by the National Audit Office following a claim by the General Department of Taxation, MNT 1.5 billion assessed by the Water Agency of Mongolia as of the first quarter of this year, as well as unpaid water pollution fees for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In response, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sandag-Ochir Tsend met on May 8, with Amarjargal Khenchbish, Country Director of Rio Tinto in Mongolia, and Munkhsukh Sukhbaatar, Chief Executive Officer of Oyu Tolgoi LLC, to discuss the settlement of the unpaid water pollution charges, improvement of land rehabilitation efforts, and cooperation in supporting the upcoming COP17 conference.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the parties discussed the outstanding issues and agreed to resolve them.

Minister Sandag-Ochir stated that the ministry supports socially responsible mining operations that comply with Mongolia’s Constitution and environmental legislation and apply environmentally friendly technologies. He noted that cooperation between the public and private sectors depends heavily on mutual understanding and emphasized the importance of complying with relevant laws and regulations. In this regard, he welcomed efforts to resolve the payment of outstanding water use and pollution fees.

The ministry also noted that participation in COP17 would provide private sector companies with opportunities to access blended financing, establish partnerships with international organizations and investors, and gain international experience.

More than 190 UN member states have expressed interest in participating in the conference. Officials emphasized that Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi LLC, as operators of major mining projects, should support and cooperate with the event while setting an example for other companies in the sector.

Mongolia Ranks 3rd Among 110 Countries Worldwide in Contribution to the Mining Industry www.open.kg

The Mining Contribution Index (MCI), published by the International Council on Mining and Metals, assesses the impact of the mining sector on the economies of countries. In the latest, seventh edition of the report, released in 2025 based on data from 2022, countries are ranked according to their dependence on this sector.

Mongolia ranked third among 110 countries, scoring 92.7 points. In this ranking, it was surpassed only by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (97.0) and Mali (94.2).

Key Indicators for Mongolia

The main parameters influencing the index include:

 Export share (2022) 91.1%
 Change in exports (2017–2022) +6.19 percentage points
 GDP share (2022) 28.64%

Mongolia’s history of dialogue and diplomacy is a strong foundation for the future www.ohchr.org

Delivered by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
At Event with National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
Location Ulaanbaatar

Sain bain uu?

It’s a pleasure to be together with you here today, and I thank the National Human Rights Commission for hosting us.

I want to pay tribute to the wonderful hospitality and beauty of Mongolia. The ancient traditions of the steppe and the modern facilities of the city make your country a place of unique contrasts. I look forward to learning more about Mongolia over the next two days.

I am here in Ulaanbaatar to stand in solidarity with Mongolians at a time of deep global challenges. For decades, Mongolia has been a beacon of peaceful dialogue, dealing with big geopolitical players skilfully and successfully. As an Austrian, I know something about living in a landlocked country with big neighbours.

Mongolia’s history is international. Your influence stretches from the Pacific to the North Atlantic. And in modern times, you are a very strong supporter of global cooperation and multilateral solutions, promoting peace and confidence-building across this region. 

When I heard that Mongolians see the international community as your “third neighbour”, it made perfect sense.

Mongolians have an ear to the world.

You have helped bring stability to war-torn countries far away for decades, through your contributions to UN peacekeeping.

Your status as a nuclear-weapons-free zone is a model for other States, as we see the nuclear threat grow by the day.   

And your hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August reflects your leadership on environmental issues. 

Mongolia has also recognized that in our troubled world, human rights offer solutions based on principles that have stood the test of time.

You have signed and ratified all the key human rights treaties, and you have participated successfully in four rounds of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review.

Mongolia engages regularly and constructively with UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, reflecting your commitment to international monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

Your national human rights institution is accredited internationally at the highest level, and has an official oversight role when it comes to data privacy. 

And you have an impressive record of leading the way on human rights. Mongolia passed the first law on human rights defenders in the region, and created one of the first business and human rights action plans. 

Dear friends,

Today, Mongolia faces challenges from several directions. You are at the forefront of the climate and environmental crisis; you are going through a surge in urbanization as I could see just travelling from the airport to the city; and you are dealing with the economic consequences of wars being waged thousands of miles away.

This reflects a growing turbulence in our world, which is experiencing an intense struggle for power, control, and resources. There are those who believe that their own country’s interests come first, without appreciating how deeply interwoven our world has become.

There was a time when diplomacy was the crown jewel in efforts to resolve disputes and conflicts. War was shunned; it was considered a last resort, after all other options had been exhausted.

Today, sadly, the use of force has once again become a tool of choice to resolve disputes between and within countries. Armed conflicts have nearly doubled since 2010, while attacks on civilians and on civilian infrastructure have risen. From Ukraine to Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Myanmar, parties to conflict are ignoring the laws of war with attacks on hospitals, schools, and civilian infrastructure.

I have called repeatedly for steps to tackle weapons transfers, hate speech and dehumanization; and for investigations and accountability for war crimes. These steps are dictated by respect for human rights law, and my staff around the world are working to support them.

We are also developing confidence‑building measures based on human rights, that can help build trust between warring parties as a first step towards dialogue. I commend Mongolia’s role as a convenor and a conduit, through the Ulaanbaatar Security Dialogues.

The bigger picture is that we need a much stronger focus on human rights to prevent conflicts from starting in the first place. Many are rooted in discrimination, inequality, oppression, racism, and neo-colonial attitudes. If we tackle these approaches, we make our world safer.

But today’s global trends point in the opposite direction. Inequalities are worsening; the Sustainable Development Goals are badly off track. One in four people around the world face food insecurity, and one in three lack adequate housing. These are shocking figures, particularly at a time when billions – if not trillions – are being spent on waging war. The issue is not about money; it is about priorities.

The recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, have made matters worse. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets and supplies, with the potential to create serious hunger and healthcare crises.

The United Nations, with many countries in the region and beyond, is doing everything possible to bring this crisis to an end, and to free up shipping in the Strait as soon as possible.  

But we should all learn – and perhaps even relearn – an essential lesson: we are all connected, and nothing can insulate any country from what happens in the rest of the world.

This is one of the fundamental lessons of Buddhism – that we are all part of a greater whole.

Mongolians are the living embodiment of this. You know well that global problems require global solutions.

From health to economics to climate to emerging technologies: we need to tackle these challenges together. And Mongolia has an important part to play.

Dear friends,

Human rights are the bedrock of a more peaceful world based on stronger, more resilient societies.  

I see three areas for action both in Mongolia and around the world.

First, sustainable, inclusive development.

The success of economic development should not be based on money, but on policies that have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 development strategy, with clear goals and indicators, shows the way forward. I welcome its recognition that Mongolia’s nomadic heritage is a core pillar for sustainability, cultural identity, and economic growth. This is key to protecting and promoting the human rights of all Mongolians.  

Sustainable development also calls for a global reform to enable all countries to access the resources they need.

Countries made important commitments on financing for development in Sevilla and Doha last year. But these promises need to be backed by the political will to reform the international financial system, and bring developing countries to the decision-making table. I also want to mention here the idea of a human rights economy, ensuring that economic policies are infused with human rights obligations.

Second, climate action.

I often wonder how future generations will judge the actions of today’s leaders on the climate crisis. On the current trajectory, our planet will heat up by at least 2.3°C by 2100 – which could be catastrophic for entire countries and regions, including Mongolia.  

Temperatures here are rising three times faster than the global average, with a clear impact on extreme weather. Millions of animals have died in intense cold and ice in recent years, deepening poverty in herder communities.

Dust storms and desertification are devastating communities, while air pollution from burning fossil fuels is a public health crisis. Mongolia is responsible for less than a fifth of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

And yet, the most recent climate negotiations in Brazil failed to agree on phasing out fossil fuels. The International Court of Justice has made clear that countries have a legal obligation to act; but still, they distract and delay.

In some years from now, could this inadequate response be considered ecocide, or even a crime against humanity?

Climate action is a human rights imperative that requires both national action, and joint global commitments.

Third, corporate responsibility.

Business plays a major part in Mongolia’s development. I urge the corporate sector to base your business practices and relationships firmly on human rights.

This will be crucial to build a mining sector that respects labour and land rights, prevents environmental harm, addresses air pollution, and benefits Mongolia’s people rather than billionaires outside the country. 

Human rights are also crucial to the digital technologies that are transforming economies around the world. Without human rights safeguards, AI and other digital tools can deepen inequality and discrimination, enable surveillance, and supercharge disinformation and dangerous content. I welcome the work being done by your National Human Rights Commission to protect human rights and personal data in digital health services and social protection systems.

There is a long-standing misconception that business and human rights are somehow in opposition. This is wrong. There is plenty of evidence that companies that respect human rights also perform better financially.

Attention to human rights strengthens the trust of investors and communities, attracts better employees, and builds a stronger and more sustainable foundation for success.   I am struck by how few business leaders around the world are speaking out against today’s troubling trends. I think that the younger the CEOs become, the more you have young people joining the workforce, the more you will see human rights becoming a feature of business practices. 

Dear friends,

Those trends include what I call an authoritarian playbook – a set of policies and decisions that are often taken up by anti-democratic governments and movements around the world.

Authoritarians often start to extend and consolidate power through vague national security laws that criminalize peaceful criticism and dissent.

Then they try to control information, by capturing some media outlets for propaganda. They may arrest and harass human rights defenders, and portray civil society groups as enemies of the state.

They undermine the independence of judicial institutions – or try to simply abolish them.

And they often target women and minorities for abuse -- like migrants, and the LGBTIQ+ community. They blame these groups for everything that is going wrong within a society.   

This playbook is being used today in many countries around the world. The food is different, the culture is different, but the repression is the same. And this playbook exerts a powerful influence across borders.

Countries with democratic traditions, including Mongolia, must stand together and do everything possible to resist its pull.

Elections are important. But on their own, they are not enough. Individuals and communities need to be heard and represented consistently. Their rights are just as important between election periods.

Policies that promote education, healthcare, and social protection for all, as set out in Vision 2050, are an excellent way to build human rights into decision-making from the ground up.

An open civic space, and a free media, foster creativity and new ideas – the foundations of the knowledge economy Mongolia is striving to build.

Gender equality is essential to making all people feel heard and valued, creating bonds of trust across all sectors of society.

Here in Mongolia, where gender gaps are having a negative impact on women, girls, men and boys, efforts towards greater equality could lead to better health outcomes, more diverse leadership, and a more dynamic economy, for the benefit of all.

I commend Mongolia’s introduction of quotas for both women and men in parliamentary elections.

Building strong, resilient communities means protecting and valuing the contributions of each and everyone – including women and girls, older people, those with disabilities, the LGBTIQ+ community, and minorities of all kinds.

The rule of law, with strong, independent judicial institutions, is the foundation of free, open, democratic societies and economies that work for all.

My Office is going to continue working with the Mongolian government in support of all these goals, from people-centred governance to civic space and the protection of human rights defenders. We are your steadfast ally – with Mongolian society as a whole – in efforts to fulfil the promise of Vision 2050 for all Mongolians.  And our joint efforts can serve to promote human rights across the wider region.

Dear friends,

I spoke earlier about troubling trends around the world.

But at the same time, I see a counterbalance to these trends – a movement being built from the ground up, founded in dignity, equality, and justice.

People around the world, including here in Mongolia, are mobilizing against corruption and the denial of their rights; against violence and conflict; and against injustice and oppression of all kinds. They are calling for peace, human rights, freedom, and opportunities for all.  

Young people are at the forefront of these movements, which bring communities and activists together across dividing lines. The time for single-issue campaigns is over. 

My Office is working together with many of these movements to launch a new initiative, a Global Alliance, of governments, civil society, cities, academia, philanthropy, the private sector and more.

We urgently need to build bridges and work together as one united team for human rights and human dignity.

Let’s stand together in solidarity with each other to champion what unites us and build a better world for all.