Mongolia Roundup: China – Mongolia anniversary, “One Billion Trees”, snow leopard protection

China - Mongolia celebrate 75th anniversary

China and Mongolia celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties with a reception in Beijing on October 18, 2024. Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress, and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene addressed the event, highlighting the significant progress in bilateral relations. Both leaders expressed a commitment to enhancing cooperation and building a shared future. The event was co-organised by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Mongolian Embassy in China.

Mongolian summits Mount Kilimanjaro

Batsukh Nyamdash, a Master of Sports of Mongolia successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, from October 6 to October 9, 2024. This accomplishment follows his previous ascent of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak. Nyamdash trained extensively on various mountains in Mongolia before his expedition, which included a five-member team, Mongolia’s National News Agency reports. With over 30 years of mountaineering experience, he has climbed all major peaks in Mongolia. Mount Kilimanjaro, standing at 5,895 metres, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its diverse ecosystems and accessibility.

41.5 million trees planted in Mongolia

As part of Mongolia's "One Billion Trees" initiative led by President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, a nationwide tree-planting campaign is ongoing from September 24 to October 26, 2024. Since the campaign's inception, 41.5 million trees have been planted, with Selenge province, north of Mongolia contributing 4.7 million. Citizens are encouraged to plant trees in their own spaces, while organisations should dedicate 20% of their properties to green spaces. The goal is to plant one billion trees by 2030, aiming to increase forest coverage to 9%, combat desertification, enhance greenhouse gas absorption, and promote climate resilience, state agency Montsame reports.

Snow leopard protection

Mongolia hosted activities on October 20 to raise awareness about snow leopard protection ahead of International Snow Leopard Day on October 23. Organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Mongolia in Ulan Bator, the capital of the East Asian nation, events included a photography exhibition, quizzes, and information sessions about the species' ecological importance and poaching penalties. Mongolia is home to the world's second-largest snow leopard population, with approximately 1,000 adults inhabiting the Altai, Sayan, and Khangai mountain ranges. Major threats include poaching and conflicts with local herders. The initiative aims to promote effective conservation measures for these endangered animals.

Strategic partnership with India

During a meeting in Pakistan, Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discussed enhancing cooperation between their countries. The Mongolian Prime Minister thanked India for its COVID-19 vaccine donation and highlighted progress on the critical Oil Refinery project. Both leaders agreed to leverage their Strategic Partnership to expand relations across all sectors and planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025, Montsame reports.