EAM Jaishankar visits construction site of India-funded refinery in Mongolia www.dailyexcelsior.com

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday visited the construction site of a USD 1.7 billion India-funded refinery project in Mongolia, reviewing the status of work on the "landmark friendship initiative".

Jaishankar is in Mongolia on the first leg of a two-nation visit.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said he visited the construction site of the Mongol Refinery Project with his Mongolian counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh and Industry and Mining Minister Gongor Damdinnyam.

"This landmark India-Mongolia friendship project is making steady progress. Reviewed the status of works under implementation with the various teams involved," he said.

Jaishankar also interacted with the Indian and Mongolian workforce at the project site and thanked them for "their dedication and commitment in realising such a major project under challenging conditions".

The Mongol Oil Refinery Project is being implemented with the support of a USD 1.7 billion Line of Credit extended by the Indian government and stands as a "flagship initiative and a vital component of Mongolia's sustainable energy strategy", according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Parliament Speaker Meets Indian External Affairs Minister www.montsame.mn

Chairman of the State Great Khural (Parliament) Byambatsogt Sandog received Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on June 22.

Chairman Byambatsogt highlighted India’s role as Mongolia’s “third neighbor” and a trusted partner in the region, emphasizing the importance of further deepening the two countries’ Strategic Partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation. He noted that Minister Jaishankar’s visit would contribute significantly to advancing bilateral relations.

He recalled that Mongolia and India celebrated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2025. He also noted that President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s state visit to India last year provided new momentum for bilateral cooperation.

The two sides discussed expanding parliamentary cooperation between Mongolia’s State Great Khural and India’s Lok Sabha, as well as strengthening exchanges of experience in legislative and development policies. Byambatsogt expressed Mongolia’s interest in learning from India’s experience in technological innovation, digital transformation, and economic development.

During the meeting, the Chairman underscored the importance of completing the Mongolia-India Oil Refinery Project on schedule, describing it as a strategically important project for Mongolia’s energy security and economic independence. He also expressed appreciation for India’s support in implementing major development projects, including the oil refinery, the India-Mongolia Friendship Secondary School, and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Center for Excellence in Information Technology, Communication and Outsourcing (ABVCEITO).

Minister Jaishankar conveyed greetings from the Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha and reaffirmed India’s commitment to further strengthening the Strategic Partnership. He stressed the importance of defining new priorities for bilateral cooperation over the next decade and expressed support for the timely completion of the oil refinery project.

Describing Mongolia and India as “spiritual brother nations,” Minister Jaishankar emphasized the value of expanding parliamentary exchanges and welcomed Mongolia’s invitation for India to participate in the World Women Parliamentarians Conference to be held in Ulaanbaatar in October 2026. He also expressed India’s interest in importing natural resources from Mongolia.

The meeting was attended by members of the Mongolia-India Parliamentary Group and other officials.

Unurzul.M

Mongolia-China cross-border rail project 33% complete, set for Apr 2027 launch www.sxcoal.com

Construction of the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimaodu cross-border railway between Mongolia and China has passed the 33% completion mark, with operations slated to begin in April 2027, according to Mongolian media and government disclosures on June 21.

Mongolia's prime minister, during a site inspection, instructed relevant departments to accelerate the project's pace to ensure it meets the scheduled commissioning deadline.

Bridge works, one of the railway's most critical components, have reached 25.01% completion. Manufacturing of 2,376 piles, 74 piers and 282 beams required for the bridge structure is finished, with installation work proceeding intensively.

The Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimaodu link extends the Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railway. Once operational, the project is expected to boost Mongolia's coal export volumes, enhance port clearance capacity and lower transport logistics costs, contributing significantly to expanded bilateral economic and trade ties.

Upon commissioning, the broad-gauge line will have an annual freight capacity of 20 million tonnes, while the narrow-gauge line will handle 10 million tonnes. The project is projected to lift Mongolia's economic growth by 0.8 percentage points annually and raise per capita GDP to $10,000.

Chinese premier calls for consolidating political mutual trust, deepening cooperation with Mongolia www.xinhuanet.com

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday met with Prime Minister of Mongolia Nyam-Osor Uchral in northeast China's city of Dalian, where Uchral is attending the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions.

Li said that China has always placed China-Mongolia relations in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing to work with Mongolia to further consolidate political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, continuously expand practical cooperation in various fields, and strive to build a China-Mongolia community with a shared future featuring peaceful coexistence, mutual assistance and win-win cooperation.

He said that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Mongolia in areas such as agricultural product trade, coal and mineral resources, and people's livelihood, promote the development of new business forms like cross-border e-commerce, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and steadily advance the interconnection of infrastructure, including border ports, railways and highways.

It is hoped that Mongolia will continue to create a favorable business environment and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises in Mongolia, Li added.

Uchral said that in recent years, high-level exchanges between Mongolia and China have been continuous and practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results, adding that Mongolia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and that issues related to Xizang, Xinjiang autonomous regions and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are China's internal affairs.

Mongolia is willing to enhance the alignment of its national development strategy with China's 15th Five-Year Plan, deepen cooperation in bilateral trade, connectivity, infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, agriculture, the green economy and other fields, and continuously enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Mongolia and China, Uchral said.

Mongolia announced a tender for the construction of a 110 MW solar power plant with a BESS system www.open.kg

Mongolia is launching a large project to build solar power plants with a total capacity of 110 MW and battery energy storage systems. These installations are aimed at optimizing renewable energy production and enhancing the stability of the power grid. The project is designed to accumulate excess energy generated during the daytime for use during peak evening hours and to smooth out fluctuations caused by weather changes.

The Government of Mongolia has announced a tender for the construction of five solar power plants, which will include energy storage systems with a capacity of 52 MW/188 MWh. The Ministry of Energy has already identified land plots for all the facilities put out to tender, three of which are located in the west of the country, and two in the east.

The construction plans include solar power plants in various aimags. In Bayankhongor, a 10 MW installation will be built with a battery storage of 10 MW/20 MWh, while in Sukhbaatar, a similar station will also be 10 MW but with a 2 MW/8 MWh battery. In Bayan-Ölgii and Dornod, power plants with capacities of 20 MW and 30 MW respectively will be installed, each with storage systems of 10 MW/40 MWh. The largest solar power plant with a capacity of 40 MW and a battery of 20 MW/80 MWh is planned for the Uvs aimag. All complexes will be connected to existing substations in these regions.

The projects will utilize the independent power producer (IPP) model. Once interest in the project is announced, the government will conduct a competitive selection of developers who will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, and operation of the power plants. The request for proposals (RfP) is expected to be published in the second half of the year, but it is still unclear whether auctions will be held for each project separately or collectively.

Developers will be able to submit their applications for participation until August 16.

Parliament Speaker S.Byambatsogt pledges policy support for energy sector www.gogo.mn

Speaker of the Parliament S.Byambatsogt conducted an official working visit to the Third Thermal Power Plant to evaluate the progress of winterization preparations, plant expansion, and ongoing modernization efforts. During the inspection, the Speaker met with the energy sector's management and highly praised the vital work being carried out by engineers and technicians. He expressed that the Parliament will provide all necessary policy and legal support to guarantee the stable operation of the energy sector through the demanding winter months ahead.

During the meeting, Speaker S.Byambatsogt emphasized that the current situation in the energy sector has transformed into a critical strategic issue that directly impacts Mongolia's national security. He stressed that authorities must urgently prepare to safely navigate and overcome the immense peak loads anticipated during the upcoming winter season. The Speaker noted with concern that the current expansion and modernization of the Third Thermal Power Plant, which generates 35% of the capital city's thermal energy and 18 percent of the central region's total electricity, is currently failing to reach its planned targets.

In response to these delays, the Speaker issued immediate directives to the management of relevant ministries and energy companies to drastically accelerate construction and overhaul works. He mandated that these expanded facilities must be fully operational before the peak winter load arrives, instructing officials to execute all winter preparations and capital investments with strict quality control and adherence to planned schedules. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to improve the overall operational efficiency and financial discipline of state-owned energy enterprises, announcing that the Parliament is actively working to adopt a formal resolution next week to legally solidify these requirements.

The Speaker also directly addressed the pressing issue of reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, highlighting the need to optimize fuel production and supply policies following the recent administrative transfer of Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC to the capital city's jurisdiction. He called for a realistic and definitive assessment of the current supply chain paradox, noting that despite Mongolia's abundant domestic coal reserves, the country remains heavily dependent on fuel raw material imports. He urged sector leaders to promptly resolve whether Mongolia will produce improved briquettes domestically based entirely on its own resources or continue to import semi-coke for fuel. Speaker S.Byambatsogt concluded by reiterating that providing citizens with reliable heat and electricity while managing air pollution reduction targets is the joint responsibility of both state and municipal organizations, directing all entities to openly confront and rapidly resolve any underlying difficulties.

COP17 Green Zone Side Event Submission Period Extended www.montsame.mn

The submission period for expressions of interest to participate in side events within the Green Zone of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has been extended.

Who can participate in Green Zone side events?

International organizations;
Government and civil society organizations;
Private sector entities;
Local best practices and good initiatives;
Academic and research institutions, best practices, and other relevant stakeholders are invited to submit their expressions of interest.
Please submit your expression of interest by completing the Google Form below by June 29, 2026.  Further information regarding the selection process and allocation will be provided to selected participants at the next stage.

LINK: https://forms.gle/5AVbHnvPwb4DwHq69

Khaan Quest 2026 Peacekeeping Drills Begin www.montsame.mn

The Khaan Quest 2026 multinational peacekeeping exercise opened on June 20 at the Peace Support Operations Training Center at the Five Hills Training Area (Tavantolgoi) near Ulaanbaatar, where the national flags of 18 participating countries were raised in support of global peace and security.

Originally launched as a bilateral field training exercise between Mongolia and the United States within the framework of defense cooperation, Khaan Quest has expanded steadily over the years into an internationally recognized multinational exercise. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the exercise, reflecting the sustained contributions of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, partner countries, international organizations, and generations of organizers who have supported its development.

More than 1,100 military personnel from 18 countries are participating in this year’s exercise. Training activities are being conducted in three main areas: command-post exercises, field training exercises, and specialized professional training. In response to evolving security challenges, the program also includes training and practical exercises related to the use of unmanned aerial systems.

Khaan Quest holds an important place in Mongolia’s foreign policy, promoting peace, cooperation, friendly relations, and diplomatic approaches to conflict resolution. The exercise also contributes significantly to enhancing the training, preparedness, and operational capabilities of the Mongolian Armed Forces, while strengthening the knowledge, skills, and experience of peacekeepers from around the world.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mongolia’s Minister of Defense Batlut Damba, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ganbyamba Sunrev, senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, heads of military and law-enforcement organizations, military commanders, ambassadors and defense attachés accredited to Mongolia, representatives of the media, and more than 1,100 service members from the participating countries.

Opening remarks were delivered by Lieutenant General George Rowell, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan. They highly commended the contributions of Mongolian peacekeepers to international peacekeeping operations.

Italy showcases advanced textile technologies in Mongolia to boost industrial cooperation www.textiletoday.com

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies started in  Ulaanbaatar on 21 and will continue to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

The Italian textile machinery industry is internationally recognized as a leading benchmark for technology, innovation, and quality. Italian companies in the sector stand out for their ability to provide flexible, versatile, and customized solutions, capable of responding rapidly to customer needs and creating high value-added market niches. During the workshop, particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the Mongolian textile industry in its transition toward efficient, premium-quality production. Italian technology can make a tangible contribution to the country’s industrial modernization and sustainability efforts.

The technological partnership between Italy and Mongolia is rooted in Italy’s excellence in cashmere and wool processing, two raw materials of strategic importance to the Mongolian economy. According to data compiled by ACIMIT, the Mongolian market has demonstrated significant dynamism in recent years, with the overall trend pointing to a steady expansion of trade cooperation between the two countries. The technologies most in demand among Mongolian operators are primarily those related to spinning, which accounts for 35% of total Italian exports to the country, followed by laundry machinery (21%), accessories (19%), finishing equipment (14%), and weaving machinery (11%).

“Mongolia represents a highly promising market for our industry,” said Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “The participation of Italian companies in the Ulaanbaatar workshop demonstrates a strong commitment to consolidating a long-term technological partnership. Our highly specialized and flexible technologies are ready to support local operators in upgrading their production processes and increasing the added value of their textile exports. The workshop in Mongolia is also part of a broader program of initiatives aimed at promoting the Italian presence at ITMA Hannover 2027, the world’s leading exhibition for textile and garment technologies, where Italian companies will once again showcase the very best of textile machinery innovation.”---make it past tense.

The initiative, promoted by the Italian Trade Agency and ACIMIT, with the valuable support of the Embassy of Italy in Mongolia, featured the participation of the following Italian companies: Biancalani, Bianco, Color Service, Cormatex, Fadis, Lawer, Mesdan, Cosmatex, Pinter Caipo Italia, Proxima, Stalam, Tecnomeccanica Biellese, Ugolini.

ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) was founded in 1945 with the primary objective of promoting the Italian textile machinery industry by supporting its activities both in Italy and abroad. A non-profit organization, it currently brings together approximately 200 textile machinery manufacturers representing 85% of the sector's turnover in Italy, for a total value of about 2.1 billion euros, of which approximately 86% is exported to 130 countries worldwide.

The technologies produced are divided into various reference categories: spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing, and other machinery. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability, and quality are the characteristics that have made Italian textile machinery a world leader.

India, Mongolia discuss new initiatives for next phase of Strategic Partnership: EAM after meeting with Mongolian counterpart www.aninews.in

Ulaanbaatar [Mongolia], June 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (local time) said India and Mongolia discussed new ideas and opportunities to advance their Strategic Partnership during his meeting with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh as part of his two-day official visit to the East Asian country.

Addressing the media after the talks, Jaishankar described the discussions as "very warm, very productive, very open" and said both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation while exploring initiatives for the next phase of India-Mongolia relations.

"We had an exchange of views on more ideas, new opportunities, and preparing an agenda for the next level of our Strategic Partnership, and the Minister cited the English language skills as one example. I think in the coming months, we would probably from our conversation and meetings come out with other projects and shared initiatives as well," Jaishankar said.

Thanking the Mongolian government for their hospitality, the External Affairs Minister said India and Mongolia are not only Strategic Partners but also "Spiritual siblings" bound by deep civilisational and spiritual links, shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties.

Jaishankar noted that the two countries celebrated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year and recalled the visit of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to India in October 2025, which gave fresh momentum to bilateral ties.

He said one of the key objectives of his visit was to review the implementation of decisions taken during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Khurelsukh.

"We celebrated last year the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and we had the privilege of hosting the President of Mongolia in India in October. That visit was highly successful with several outcomes, and one of the purposes of my visit was to sit with my counterpart and review the progress of what was agreed to between our Prime Minister and your President last year," the EAM stated.

According to Jaishankar, the two sides reviewed cooperation across a range of sectors,
including development partnership projects, capacity building, technology, trade, supply chains, education, culture, defence, security and energy.

He highlighted the India-supported oil refinery project in Mongolia as the most important development partnership initiative while also mentioning cooperation through an ICT centre, a school project and several Quick Impact Projects.

"We really reviewed the entire gamut of our bilateral cooperation, including the development partnership of which the Oil Refinery is the most important project; there is also an ICT centre and a school and a number of Quick Impact Projects, we spoke about capacity building, technology, economic and trade cooperation, supply chain cooperation, education, culture, defence, security, and energy," he stated.

The two ministers also discussed ways to strengthen Buddhist heritage links and people-to people exchanges, while exchanging views on regional and global issues, including
cooperation in multilateral forums.

Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Mongolia's participation in the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance and reiterated India's commitment to elevating the Strategic Partnership to greater heights.

"We exchanged views on regional and global issues, including cooperation in multilateral
forums, and I want to say we very much value your participation in the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance. We reiterated our commitment to work with the Mongolian side to take our Strategic Partnership to even greater heights," the EAM said.

Following the meeting with his Mongolian counterpart in a post on X, Jaishankar said his
discussions with Battsetseg reflected the "warmth, strength and promise" of the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership.

"Reviewed the progress in our cooperation in development projects, capacity building, culture, education, security and multilateral fora. Also spoke about opportunities in mining, clean energy and agri processing. As a third neighbour and a spiritual partner, India stands ready to advance its close and cordial ties with Mongolia," the post read.

During his visit, Jaishankar also called on Mongolian President Khurelsukh and conveyed
greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In another post on X, the External Affairs Minister said President Khurelsukh's visit to India last year had imparted strong momentum to the Strategic Partnership.

"Value his guidance on advancing our strong cooperation in a wide range of sectors. Fully agree with him that the greatest friendship is spiritual friendship," Jaishankar wrote in his post.

The minister also met the Chief Abbot of Mongolia's Gandan Monastery, Khamba Nomun Khan
Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj, and said the abbot's blessings for deepening cultural ties and people-to-people goodwill were deeply cherished.

"Glad to meet His Eminence Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj, Chief Abbot of Gandan Monastery, Mongolia. His blessings for deepening our cultural ties and people-to-people goodwill are deeply cherished," the EAM stated in a separate post.

Jaishankar further held talks with Speaker of the State Great Khural Sandag Byambatsogt, welcoming his support for parliamentary exchanges and reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening its people-centric development partnership with Mongolia.

"A pleasure to meet Speaker of the State Great Khural Sandag Byambatsogt today. Welcome
his strong support for India - Mongolia parliamentary exchanges and friendship. Reiterated support to deepening our people - centric development partnership," he stated in another post.

The External Affairs Minister is currently on a two-day official visit to Mongolia from June 22 to June 23, following which, he will travel to South Korea for engagements from June 24 to June 25. (ANI)