Mongolia to host inaugural "World Horse Day" at Khui Doloon Khudag www.gogo.mn

Mongolia is set to host the first-ever international "World Horse Day" festival on July 10-13, 2026, at the Khui Doloon Khudag plains.

Initiated by President U.Khurelsukh and officially approved by UNESCO, July 11 has been globally designated to honor the horse's vital contribution to human development and to recognize the rich heritage of Mongolian nomadic culture.

While more than 55 countries will observe the occasion this year according to their own traditions, Mongolia will serve as the primary center for this historic celebration. The multi-day event will feature large-scale activities showcasing national heritage, international equestrian sports, and traditional arts and culture.

Event details:

Dates: July 10–13, 2026
Location: Khui Doloon Khudag, Ulaanbaatar

Minister urges calm amid Naadam fuel panic, confirms ample national reserves www.gogo.mn

During the government's 100-day progress presentation, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources G.Damdinnyam addressed public anxiety over recent fuel shortages, urging citizens to rely on factual data rather than panic.

The Minister explained that the perceived scarcity is driven entirely by a sudden spike in consumer panic-buying ahead of the Naadam holiday, with urban gas stations currently selling three to four times their normal daily volume. Consequently, reserves that typically last several days are being depleted in a single day. Damdinnyam firmly dismissed rumors of an actual shortage, labeling them as politically motivated misinformation.

As of July 4, the country holds a 33-day supply of AI-92 gasoline, a 44-day supply of AI-95, a 27-day supply of diesel, and a 21-day supply of jet fuel.

To further secure long-term domestic needs, the government has signed contracts to import an additional 137,000 tons of petroleum products in July and has placed a subsequent order for 71,000 tons from China. The Ministry expects station congestion to normalize shortly and urges drivers to remain calm as nationwide distribution continues smoothly.

Prospects remain uncertain for North Korean defector interpreter case during Lee's Mongolia visit www.koreaherald.com

The case involving a North Korean interpreter who sought asylum through the South Korean Embassy in Mongolia is unlikely to be resolved quickly despite President Lee Jae Myung's upcoming state visit to Mongolia, with Seoul declining to comment on the issue.

When asked about the case, a Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, declined to comment, saying, “We ask for your understanding that we have nothing to confirm regarding the matter.”

A Unification Ministry official, speaking by phone, echoed the official's position, saying the government was "unable to confirm" whether the issue would be discussed during Lee's state visit to Mongolia, describing it as a diplomatically sensitive matter.

Lee is scheduled to visit Mongolia from Thursday to Saturday after attending the NATO summit in Turkey.

He is scheduled to meet Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh during his visit, the first visit by a South Korean president to the country in 15 years.

According to diplomatic sources, the North Korean interpreter approached the South Korean Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in August 2025 and expressed a desire to defect while accompanying a delegation from the North's Academy of Social Sciences on a visit to Mongolia.

The interpreter's relocation to South Korea has remained unresolved, with diplomatic sources saying that the necessary procedures, which require Mongolia's cooperation, have stalled amid objections from North Korea, which maintains long-standing ties with Mongolia.

The case first came to light in October 2025, when Japan's Kyodo News, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, reported that the interpreter had sought asylum through the South Korean Embassy in Ulaanbaatar while traveling with a delegation led by Thae Hyong-chol, president of North Korea's Academy of Social Sciences.

Kyodo reported that the interpreter's affiliation and position were not disclosed but suggested the individual likely held relatively high status, given Pyongyang's tight restrictions on overseas travel.

Lee's visit comes as Seoul seeks to revive dialogue with Pyongyang after North Korea declared South Korea a hostile state under its "two hostile states" policy and severed official inter-Korean communication channels.

Some observers say Lee could ask Khurelsukh to play a mediating role in facilitating future inter-Korean dialogue, taking advantage of Mongolia's long-standing relations with both Koreas.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said in a briefing last week that Lee and Khurelsukh would discuss ways to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, reduce regional tensions, build mutual trust and explore opportunities to resume dialogue with North Korea.

mkjung@heraldcorp.com

The Government Presents Its “100 Liberations in 100 Days” www.montsame.mn

 It marks the first 100 days of the Government of Mongolia, headed by Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor.

To mark the milestone, the Prime Minister and cabinet members held an open presentation yesterday, detailing the government's accomplishments to the private sector, citizens, the public, and journalists.

Within the framework of the “Four Pathways to Freedom and Four Liberations,” the government is implementing the “Chuluulye" (Liberate) national initiative across all sectors. Prime Minister Uchral emphasized that while 100 days are not enough to change everything, the government has successfully put an end to many endless debates and firmly maintained a policy that is favorable to citizens, the private sector, and the working public.

Highlights of the tangible results achieved during the government's first 100 days:

Oyu Tolgoi Project: Achieved a historic breakthrough in negotiations with Rio Tinto, significantly increasing Mongolia's benefits from the Oyu Tolgoi project. As a result of the negotiations, costs were cut by over MNT 30 trillion, and the Mongolian side’s benefits increased by USD 4 billion (MNT 13 trillion). Mongolia is set to receive dividends from the project this year.
Mining and Employment: Launched operations at the Borteeg coal deposit, creating 1,500 new jobs in the Gobi region.
Erdenes Tavantolgoi: Initiated the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process for Erdenes Tavantolgoi JSC.
SOE Management: Sent invitations to 12 leading international companies to manage a portion of state-owned enterprises' (SOEs) shares.
State-Owned Companies: Submitted the Draft Law on the Governance of State and Locally Owned Companies to the State Great Khural (Parliament), which was subsequently approved. This establishes a legal framework to liquidate unprofitable state-owned enterprises.
Cost Savings: Liquidated 14 state-owned companies, saving MNT 67 billion.
Tax Debt Relief: Unblocked the accounts of 12,153 taxpayers within a single month, clearing MNT 91 billion in debts.
Business Environment: Allowed operations to commence upon simple notification, resulting in 739 new businesses opening their doors.
E-Business 2.0: Introduced the E-business 2.0 platform, allowing citizens to start a business in just 30 minutes.
Digital Governance: Enabled citizens and businesses to obtain 21 types of permits directly via mobile phone.
Inspection Reduction: Canceled 9,376 scheduled government inspections for 2026.
Tax Exemptions: Submitted and passed amendments to tax laws in Parliament, exempting citizens and enterprises from MNT 3.1 trillion in taxes.
Real Estate Tax: Eliminated the 2 percent tax imposed on real estate sales.
Economic Freedom: Submitted and passed a bill aimed at creating economic freedom.
Foreign Investment: Hosted over 120 foreign investors in Mongolia, signing agreements and Memorandums of Understanding worth USD 545 million.
Social Insurance: Passed reforms to the Laws on Social Insurance and Pensions, ensuring that individuals who have paid premiums for many years receive higher pensions.
Public Sector Salaries: Resolved ambiguities in the salary structures for doctors and teachers and substantially increased their wages.
Health Insurance: Cleared the debts of the Health Insurance Fund.
Renewable Energy: Announced the first-ever auction in the renewable energy sector. Private companies have begun constructing battery storage facilities and solar power plants in five aimags ahead of the upcoming winter peak load.
Green Station: Opened the first "Green Station" in Bulgan aimag.
Green Loans: Excluded green loans from the consumer loan category and reduced their interest rates.
Child Development: Converted the former Capital City Administration building into a Child Development Palace.
Education: Initiated the establishment of community elementary schools, starting with the "Oyunii Undraa" school in the capital.
During the forum, the Prime Minister and Cabinet members openly answered questions from citizens, private sector representatives, and journalists. Today, Prime Minister Uchral N. will participate in the "Ask the Prime Minister" live interview on the Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) from 20:40 to 23:00 to answer citizens' questions directly.

The Return of the Steeds: Mongolian Horses Fly Home After Serving in Vietnam’s Mounted Police www.montsame.mn

Within the framework of law enforcement cooperation between Mongolia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 20 Mongolian horses that successfully served in the Vietnamese Mounted Mobile Police Unit were brought back to their homeland on July 6.

In connection with Decree No. 26 issued by the President of Mongolia on December 16, 2025, to organize nationwide activities for "World Horse Day," aimed at preserving nomadic heritage and traditions, and promoting horse culture, Mongolia extended a proposal to Vietnam. Consequently, the Vietnamese side decided to return the 20 horses that honorably served in Vietnam's Mounted Police force to Mongolia.

Under this historic decision, a Working Group led by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, Munkh-Erdene D., was established. The group systematically managed veterinary and quarantine inspections, vaccinations, as well as export and import permits and documentation. As a result, the Mongolian steeds were successfully brought back home on the eve of the National Naadam Festival.

The welcoming ceremony for the horses was attended by Uilstogoldor A., Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of Mongolia, Munkh-Erdene D., Deputy Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, Colonel Namsamand A., Head of the General Executive Agency of Court Decisions, Colonel Do Tien Thuy, Deputy Commander of the Mobile Police Force at the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, and First Secretary of the Embassy of Vietnam in Mongolia, as well as officers of the General Executive Agency of Court Decisions, who will be responsible for the care and protection of the 20 horses.

The 20 Mongolian horses were transported via a special charter flight. The logistics and transportation were managed by "Undur Zotol Logistics" from the Mongolian side and "Golden Sun Logistics Services Co., Ltd" from the Vietnamese side.

Initially, during the visit of Vietnam's Minister of Public Security, To Lam, to Mongolia in July 2019, a request was made for assistance in establishing a mounted police force in Vietnam. Following this, a joint working group from Mongolia's Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs and related agencies was formed, and the horses were delivered to Vietnam via a charter flight in January 2020.

This historic event serves as a clear demonstration of how the Mongolian horse, an inseparable part of Mongolian statehood and culture for centuries, has become a new symbol of cooperation between the two friendly nations.

One Specialized High School to Be Established in Each District for the 2026-2027 Academic Year www.montsame.mn

Minister of Education Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren, Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Jargalsaikhan Ganbaatar, and other officials are visiting districts of the capital city to review on-site the planned initiatives under the comprehensive campaign "Increasing the Accessibility of the Capital City's Education Sector."

During the 2025-2026 academic year, a total of 412,394 students are enrolled in 332 schools across Ulaanbaatar, comprising 342,000 students in 178 state-owned schools and 70,000 students in 154 private schools. Currently, 38 general education schools are operating at high capacity, each with over 3,000 students. Furthermore, 77 schools have 1,089 classes that exceed a class size of 46 students. To alleviate this congestion and balance teacher workloads, authorities plan to divide classes with more than 46 students, revise school catchment areas, establish primary schools within residential complexes, build specialized high schools, and organize hybrid learning models.

Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Jargalsaikhan G. stated, "The Ministry of Education will carry out six packages of reforms in the education sector, and the capital city will work in close coordination on these efforts. We have planned several specific tasks. First, we will reduce the load and structurally reorganize schools that have more than 3,000 students. Second, we will organize efforts to reduce the load of classes with over 46 children, bringing the number down to under 35. To achieve this, we will rent primary school facilities within residential complexes, acquire private schools, and repurpose certain buildings originally designated for kindergartens."

Furthermore, one specialized high school will be established in each district for the 2026-2027 academic year. These schools will primarily focus on the natural sciences and engineering, an initiative that is expected to increase the number of graduates from specialized high schools.

COP17 Venue Landscaping 90% Complete www.montsame.mn

 Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sandag-Ochir Tsend, Deputy Minister Munkhtamir Batbayar and State Secretary Batbayar Shurenchuluun inspected the progress of evening shift at the COP17 venue development site.

The site workers are currently operating in two shifts on an overtime schedule. They plan to continue working full hours through the National Naadam Festival holidays to ensure all scheduled tasks are completed on time. As of today, exterior landscaping is over 90% complete, while interior finishing work is progressing according to schedule. A total of 12 temporary facilities are being built for the conference, and they are scheduled to be fully completed and handed over, along with the surrounding landscaping, by August 6, 2026.

As part of the landscaping, a total of 12 hectares of land have been turfed with grass, and more than 4,800 shrubs and bushes have been planted.

Following his inspection, Minister of Environment and Climate Sandag-Ochir ordered the relevant organizations to complete and hand over the construction work strictly on schedule while fully ensuring quality and safety standards, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

Mongolia will host the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar from August 17-28, 2026.

Prime Minister N.Uchral inspects Baganuur coal-pyrolysis plant construction www.gogo.mn

Prime Minister N.Uchral recently inspected the construction site of a new coal-pyrolysis plant in Baganuur, highlighting the facility as a vital step toward ending Mongolia's reliance on imported fuel.

The Prime Minister emphasized the economic inefficiency of importing processed coal when Mongolia possesses abundant domestic reserves. To address this, the government is fast-tracking construction over the summer. 

The initial phase of the plant is scheduled to begin producing refined "blue coal" by next fall, a milestone projected to meet 50% of the nation's domestic demand.

Following the completion of the pyrolysis plant, an integrated thermal power plant will be constructed on the same site. These energy projects are part of a broader government strategy to implement phased industrial developments through 2030, supporting Baganuur's legal transition into a state-level city.

Mongolia is not facing a fuel shortage; it will import diesel fuel from South Korea www.open.kg

The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia, Dashpurev Buriad, held a press conference where he discussed the fuel situation. He assured that during the Naadam celebration, the prices for AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel will remain stable, and no supply disruptions are expected.

After Naadam, a meeting of the Joint Council on Prices and Supplies is planned, where the possibility of increasing the price of AI-92 gasoline will be considered, while the price of diesel fuel may be revised downwards, noted Buriad.

Dashpurev Buriad
Buriad also reported on the difficult situation with disruptions and shortages in Russia, but noted that this does not affect Mongolia, as the parties continue to work within the agreed conditions. He added that enterprises capable of importing products from China have already placed orders, and agreements for importing diesel fuel from the Republic of Korea are in the process of being fulfilled.

Additionally, the Mongolian side has reached agreements with Chinese companies PetroChina and China Oil for the purchase of petroleum products. It is expected that there will be no problems with price increases or supply shortages in the near future. Before the press conference, Buriad held meetings with business representatives who confirmed the absence of issues with logistics and resource shortages.

China Grants Military Equipment to Mongolia www.montsame.mn

Within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and defense sector cooperation between Mongolia and the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Ministry of Defense of Mongolia has officially received military grant equipment provided by the Ministry of National Defense of the PRC.

As part of this assistance, passenger buses were handed over to the Mongolian side. The vehicles are intended to improve the operations and personnel transportation conditions of the units and organizations under the Ministry of Defense, as well as to ensure daily readiness.

During the handover ceremony, the Minister of Defense of Mongolia, Batlut Damba, delivered remarks, noting that under the leadership of the two countries' Heads of State, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is actively developing across all sectors. He emphasized that the recent 2026 visits by Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor and Deputy Prime Minister Nomtoibayar Nyamtaishir to China, alongside the visits by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to Mongolia, clearly demonstrate the special importance both sides attach to their bilateral relations.

Minister Batlut also highlighted that the recently co-organized "Steppe Partner 2026" joint army training exercise played a vital role in strengthening mutual trust and regional peace. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the military grant provided by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, stating that it serves as tangible support for strengthening the capacity and upgrading the equipment of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

Both parties emphasized that the event holds great significance in further deepening the friendly relations and mutual trust between the two nations.

According to the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, the ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the PRC to Mongolia Shen Minjuan, Defense Attaché Senior Colonel Zhang Xiuliang, and other officials and leadership from the defense sectors of both countries.

Enkh-Od.G