Mongolia is looking for $11 billion in green finance to decarbonize its economy, which is currently heavily dependent on fossil energy, mining and livestock farming, the country’s minister of environment and tourism said on Wednesday.

“There is a rough estimation that we would need $11 billion as a start” to transition into a greener and more sustainable economy, while also promoting more environmental businesses with advanced technology, Bat-Erdene Bat-Ulzii said in an interview during the COP28 summit in Dubai. “We are trying to contribute to the global efforts of improving the environment as well, so for us international, bilateral, multilateral cooperations are very important.”

Mongolia is facing challenges stemming from land degradation, limited water resources and overgrazing. Meanwhile, energy and mining sectors account for a lion share of its economy, of which coal exporting to China has been rising due to steady demand.

The country has committed to increase its renewable electricity capacity — including hydropower, solar and wind — to 30% by 2030 as a share of total electricity generation capacity. It has already managed to increase the portion to 27%, if construction-stage projects are counted, Bat-Ulzii said. The nation of about 3.5 million people is also in the middle of transforming its animal farming sector. It currently has 71 million livestock animals, which is beyond its theoretical pasture capacity of 25 million.

Bat-Ulzii said Mongolia is a victim of global climate change as well and called for a strengthened environmental compensation mechanism with more options. Even if Mongolia is eligible for assistance through the yet-to-be operational loss and damage fund, he doesn’t think the fund is going to support the country much from his experience, Bat-Ulzii said. He’s concerned the criteria to have projects supported through the loss and damage fund could be too high and the delivery time for finance could be too slow.

The Mongolia minister said the COP28 summit should not be about showing bread to a starving person or water to the thirsty, when being asked about his own observation about the conference. Whether Mongolia will agree to text that calls for the phase down or phase out of fossil fuels at the summit is highly related with seeing more financial solutions and ways to secure the delivery, he said.

The legacy of Genghis Khan is to be explored in a new collaborative study involving the University of Cambridge.

The collaboration with the Mongolian government aims to promote deeper study - and strengthen academic links.

The 13th Century warlord had a brutal reputation but was also revered as "a great diplomat, innovator and ruler".

Mongolian culture minister Nomin Chinbat said she hoped the project would "help foster the next generation of Mongolian academics".

The warrior king, known as Chinggis Khaan in Mongolia, conquered more than a million square miles of land and was the founder of the Mongol nation.

He died in 1227.

The study - involving the university's Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit - was agreed last month when Ms Chinbat visited the UK.

Ms Chinbat, a former media executive who brought the TV show Mongolia's Got Talent to the country, said she hoped the research partnership would "strengthen understanding of the Mongol Empire's impact across the world".

"How many people know he invented the postal service, the first passports?" Ms Chinbat said.

"That he showed great religious tolerance, and he himself was a peacemaker?"

"Of course Chinggis Khaan is primarily known for his warriorship, but he was also a great diplomat, innovator and ruler," she said.

The partnership may also This will include the possibility of visiting research fellowships and travel grants.

Professor David Sneath, director of the university unit, said: "This is all about exploring the historical reality behind the myth.

"We are interested not just in the man himself, Chinggis Khaan - although of course he is of great historical interest - but in his legacy.

"We are trying to encourage a deeper study of Chinggis Khaan and his impact."

The United Nations will support the organization of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), which will be held in Mongolia in 2026, GoGoMongolia says.

Minister of Environment and Tourism B. Bat-Erdene held a meeting with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Ibraham Thiaw on December 3.

At the meeting, Executive Secretary Ibraham Thiaw conveyed the President's intention to visit Mongolia in 2024, expand cooperation and provide all-round support to preparations for COP17, which will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2026.

The Mongolian side spoke about issues of grasslands and Gobi steppe areas and yellow dust storms as priorities, and advised on the effectiveness of demonstrating leadership in international cooperation.

Vegetable production in Mongolia has reached 183,000 tons this year, a record high, the country's Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry said Wednesday.

The output can cover 85 percent of the domestic needs, the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, the country has harvested a total of 434,000 tons of wheat, up 8 percent from last year, said the statement.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh has proposed to launch a "food supply and security" national campaign to develop agricultural industry clusters and establish food production complexes, in order to fully secure the domestic supply of food and become a food exporter.

On December 4, Open hearings for inspection and evidence analysis of some state-owned and local companies with property participation in coal mining, sales, transportation, export activities and other goods, works and services procurement activities started.

Yesterday, a total of 22 witnesses were called, but 17 of them were given notices, while 5 witnesses could not be contacted. 12 witnesses were present, one of whom was accompanied by a lawyer. One of the witnesses stated in writing that he would not be able to participate and the 6 witnesses did not appear for an unknown reason.

On December 5, the public hearing to analyze the evidence continues for the second day. On today’s hearing:

Coal sales activities "Tavantolgoi" JSC; Hear expert opinions and auditors' reports on inspections and inspections carried out by authorized organizations in "Tavantolgoi" JSC, as well as the measures taken as a result of them, present the necessary written evidence, ask questions and get answers from the relevant witnesses, get comments from witnesses, experts, and reviewers. A total of 168 witnesses were called in connection with the agenda of the day.

Currently, the certificates of land ownership violated the land law in Khanbogd soum, Umnugovi province are presented.

Recently, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE) successfully organized the Mongolian Capital Markets Day 2023 at the SSE. The event was attended by T. Tserenbadral, Vice Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, and D. Bold, Consul General of Mongolia in Shanghai, who delivered speeches. Senior representatives from the MSE and listed companies, securities firms, and investment institutions of the Mongolian capital market made in-depth presentations to over 60 institutional investors from China's capital market, covering topics such as Mongolia's economy, capital market investments, and listed companies.

In recent years, China and Mongolia have continuously strengthened economic communication and cooperation. In June this year, the SSE and the MSE signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation under the witness of the two countries' prime ministers, which further deepened the cooperation between the two capital markets, providing a solid foundation for supporting the Belt and Road Initiative. Following the online edition of the Mongolian Capital Markets Day 2021, this event provided another significant opportunity for Chinese institutional investors to gain a deeper understanding of the Mongolian capital market through the communication platform provided by the SSE.

Moving forward, under the unified deployment of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the SSE will continue to deepen high-standard institutional opening up, explore multi-dimensional cooperation mechanisms with the Mongolian capital market, strengthen bilateral cooperation, explore diversified development, and continuously enhance the forms and deepen the content of cooperation.

The Mongolian delegation led by Chairman of the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy Enkh-Amgalan Byambasuren, is paying a working visit to China at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of National People's Congress.

Deputy Chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Fu Ziying received the Mongolian delegation on December 4, Montsame reported.

Chairman of the Standing Committee B. Enkh-Amgalan noted that friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between Mongolia and China have been developing rapidly in recent years. He added that increasing frequency of high and highest-level visits have an important impact on enhancing political mutual trust and strengthening friendship between the two countries.

The Chairman expressed gratitude for inviting representatives of the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy of Mongolia on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Mongolia and China and for intensifying the regular inter-parliamentary meeting mechanism.

Chairman B. Enkh-Amgalan invited the relevant leaders and researchers from the Chinese side to participate in the World Forum for Sustainable Development 2024, to be organized in Mongolia.

Deputy Chairman Fu Ziying expressed satisfaction with the development of relations and cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries and affirmed its commitment to further strengthening friendly relations between Mongolia and China.

Fu Ziying expressed his contentment that foreign trade has doubled since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Mongolia and China along with the increased frequency of reciprocal high and highest-level visits.

The sides exchanged views on the 5th meeting of the inter-parliamentary regular consultation which is to discuss the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Mongolia and China and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a permanent cooperation mechanism between the Mongolian Parliament and the Chinese National People's Congress in 2024 and other issues.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria will provide USD 15 million to Mongolia for the fight against AIDS and Tuberculosis in 2024-2026. Minister of Health S. Chinzorig has met with Global Fund Country Manager for Mongolia Allan Nfamba to discuss the progress of ongoing projects and the new financing method for the projects to be implemented.

The Minister thanked the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, a major partner in the health sector, for consistent support to Mongolia and close cooperation.

More than 100 countries of the world are fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria with financial support from the Global Fund, and since 2003, Mongolia implemented eight projects at the national level.

“Over the past twenty years, eight projects were successfully implemented with the financial support of the Fund, resulting in keeping the spread of AIDS at a low level in our country, completely preventing mother-to-child transmission, improving tuberculosis treatment and diagnosis, decentralizing tuberculosis care, and improving its accessibility,” noted Health Minister Chingzorig. He expressed appreciation to the Global Fund for its contribution to the implementation of comprehensive programs aimed at creating a healthy living environment for Mongolian people by supporting the expansion of health infrastructure, provision of necessary drugs, and encouraging community-based prevention and treatment approaches.

During the meeting, the parties expressed their views on performance-based funding for the activities and interventions targeted at the risk groups under the AIDS project to be implemented in 2024-2026.

Allan Nfamba, on behalf of the Global Fund, thanked the Government of Mongolia for its effective cooperation over the past 20 years and pointed out that while the investments made by the world's countries in the health sector have been decreasing in the past two or three years, this indicator has been steadily increasing in Mongolia.

Since the support of the Global Fund had an impact on reducing the spread and death of AIDS and tuberculosis, which is important for every citizen of Mongolia, the Fund considered it appropriate to continue the project, underscored Country Manager Allan Nfamba.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the epic theatrical spectacle "The Mongol Khan", directed by B. Baatar and based on an earlier play "The Throne without the Seal" written by renowned Mongolian writer Lkhagvasuren Bavuu, was staged at the London Coliseum from November 17 to December 2, 2023

"The Mongol Khan" was staged 17 times over 14 days, and a total of 40,000 people saw the spectacle, featuring over 70 performers, original music, puppetry, elaborate sets, and costumes inspired by traditional nomadic culture. It received high praise from the spectators, international media, and critics.

The theatrical play "The Mongol Khan", fully booked at every performance and additional performances announced upon request contributed to advancing the sixty-year history of Mongolia-UK cultural ties to a new level, but also raised Mongolia's reputation internationally and opened a new page in the history of culture and art.