On 1 March 2019, the Business Council of Mongolia (BCM) co-organized with the Ministry of Energy, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) an international conference on “Northeast Asia Regional Power System Interconnection”. The conference was held under the auspices of the President of Mongolia H.E. KHALTMAA BATTULGA. The following business associations and non-governmental organizations supported the conference, the Asia Super Grid Mongolia Association, the Mongolian Renewables Industries Association, and the Energy Association of Mongolia.

BCM Chairman B.Byambasaikhan and vice-chair of the Energy, Infrastructure and Connectivity Working Group Ts.Tumentsogt welcomed the President to the international conference attended by 300 participants, including the ambassadors and trade representatives from Australia, Belorussia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, European Union, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam, representatives of the United Nations, speakers and experts from China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.

In his opening remarks(click to read the speech) President Battulga noted “Mongolia not only has a high level of political understanding with our neighboring and regional countries, but we do not have any dispute with any country at the international level. Mongolia has the necessary prerequisites to successfully implement this project.” The President reiterated his call for the creation of the regional organization to implement this progressive initiative.

The ADB Country Director Yolanda F. Lommen highlighted the importance of Mongolia’s potential to supply clean and reliable energy to the region. Gurbuz Gonul, Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) presented its report on “New World: the Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation”. The purpose of international conference was to present countries’ perspectives in North East Asia to develop a regional mechanism for the Northeast Asian power system integration (NAPSI).

Experts presented their view on a strategy and an action plan roadmap for the NAPSI benefiting from Mongolia’s vast energy resources. During the Panel discussions, country representatives expressed their interest in the realization of the Northeast Asia Super Grid Project. Members from international organizations such as IRENA, United National Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific, and the Energy Charter remain optimistic of the long-term potential for energy export from Mongolia.

During the Panel discussions, country representatives expressed their interest in the realization of the Northeast Asia Super Grid Project. Members from international organizations such as IRENA, United National Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific, and the Energy Charter remain optimistic of the long-term potential for energy export from Mongolia. Research organizations also emphasized that renewable energy exports from Mongolia will be highly profitable for the region and that Mongolia should continue to actively partake in the realization of this initiative.

While a slowing economy and pressure on jobs dominated the “two sessions” this year, President Xi Jinping refocused his attention to the environment at China’s key annual political gathering.
Speaking to fellow deputies from Inner Mongolia at the National People’s Congress on Tuesday, soon after Premier Li Keqiang presented the government’s work report, Xi said boosting the economy must not come at the price of a degraded environment.
“Do not ever think about launching environmentally damaging projects for growth, or any attempt to breach the red line of ecological protection, even when we meet some difficulties in economic development,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
“As the Chinese economy goes from high-speed growth to high-quality development, pollution prevention and environmental governance are important barriers to cross … We must grit our teeth, climb over this slope and pass this ridge,” the president said.

The joint sessions of China’s top legislature and its political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, begin with annual work reports delivered by the premier and the CPPCC head. More detailed – and revealing – messages from Xi are usually released during his meetings with panels of lawmakers and advisers.
Against the backdrop of an economic slowdown and a damaging trade dispute with the United States, Li’s address to the NPC referred to “risks”, “pressure” and “challenges” more than three dozen times while setting China’s economic growth target for 2019 at the range of 6 per cent to 6.5 per cent.

The premier said companies, as the main polluters, had a responsibility to protect the environment. But he also instructed the environment watchdogs to consider legitimate requests from businesses and give them a reasonable time to take corrective measures, and to avoid shutting down polluting factories outright.
Pollution in north China up 16 per cent as industrial activity spikes
Xi and other top officials have seats at the national legislature, and the president is a member of the Inner Mongolia delegation. He has said he wanted to join the region’s panel discussion because it would demonstrate the Communist Party’s support for poverty alleviation, minority rights and environmental protection.
He told the panel it was the responsibility of the party and the government to tighten spending and he tasked officials with ensuring China’s economic stability.
Xi also reminded them that they should unswervingly continue to protect the environment.
Mother pays tribute to late son by greening the Inner Mongolia deserts
Inner Mongolia, which lies in northern China, was a vast grassland, but in recent decades dust storms and desertification have become major environmental threats. Mining, overgrazing and tourism have all caused environmental problems in the resource-rich region.
After he visited the area in 2014 and spoke of building it up as an “ecological shield” for China’s northern border, banners and slogans echoing his thoughts went up in the streets.
On Tuesday, Xi told deputies that protecting grasslands and forests was the top priority for Inner Mongolia.
He also revisited his “three critical battles” call of 2017, with the priorities being environmental issues, alleviating poverty and reducing economic risks.
Stairs lead down into a dam containing heavily polluted water near Xinguang village in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.

Zhang Lifan, a political commentator and Chinese historian, said Xi regarded environmental protection as one of his legacies. He said Xi’s place on the Inner Mongolia panel suggested he wanted to strengthen his green credentials, given the serious environmental situation in the region.
In his meeting with national political advisers on Monday, Xi talked about “cultural self-confidence” and raising the public’s moral standards.