Nightly marathon to be organized in late September www.ubpost.mn

Ulaanbaatar City will host its first-ever nightly marathon on September 26, bringing runners together for an evening race and entertainment festival in the capital. Registration for the event is now open. Participants can choose from three race distances, five km, 10 km and 21 km, and must be at least 16 years old. Registration fees range from 29,000 to 100,000 MNT, depending on the race category.

The night marathon is a running festival held after sunset, typically between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Unlike conventional daytime races, the event is designed to combine running with entertainment, allowing participants to enjoy the city’s nighttime atmosphere while taking part in a major sporting event.

In addition to road races, the event will feature live performances, music, DJ sets and cultural and artistic programs. The illuminated streets and nighttime scenery of Ulaanbaatar are expected to create a distinctive atmosphere for both runners and spectators. Organizers aim to promote an active lifestyle and encourage greater public participation in running while introducing a new format of sporting and cultural entertainment to the capital.  

Mongolia and EAEU discuss expanding trade agreement benefits and export opportunities www.gogo.mn

The implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and opportunities to increase Mongolian exports were discussed.

The agreement between Mongolia, the EAEU, and its member states was ratified by the Parliament on December 12, 2025. Under the agreement, 367 types of Mongolian goods are eligible for reduced or zero customs tariffs when exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement officially entered into force on July 22, 2026, creating new opportunities for Mongolian producers to access the EAEU market.

The tariff concessions primarily cover agricultural, food, and light industry products, including meat and meat products, food products, wool and cashmere, textiles and garments, and leather goods.

The agreement is expected to expand opportunities for Mongolia to increase non-mining exports, particularly value-added products, to the EAEU market, which has more than 180 million consumers.

To ensure that these benefits are realized in practice, it is important to gather feedback from businesses and individuals currently producing export goods or planning to enter export markets.

In this regard, relevant government agencies and organizations will collect information and proposals from exporters and manufacturers next week, identify products with export potential, and use the findings to develop measures for the effective implementation of the agreement.

Montenegro President to Pay State Visit to Mongolia www.montsame.mn

At the invitation of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović will pay a state visit to Mongolia from September 8 to 10.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Montenegro. President Milatović’s visit will be the first state-level visit by a Montenegrin head of state to Mongolia.

The two presidents are scheduled to hold official talks on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy, investment, culture, education, science, climate change, environmental protection, and other areas.

Following the official talks, the two heads of state will brief representatives of the media on the outcomes of their discussions. During the visit, the two sides are also expected to sign a Joint Declaration and several documents aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in the social and economic sectors, as well as in education, culture, and science.

President Khurelsukh previously met with President Jakov Milatović on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During that meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on arranging high-level visits and expanding cooperation in the political, economic, tourism, education, and cultural sectors. They also expressed mutual interest in working together within the international community to address climate change, combat desertification, and advance other areas of shared concern.

Mongolia and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on November 30, 2006.

Historical ties between the two countries also date back more than a century. The third issue of Shine Toli Khemekh Bichig, Mongolia’s first newspaper, published in 1913, featured an introduction to Montenegro, covering its territory, population, system of government, and distinctive characteristics.

Ulaanbaatar Railway Freight Volumes on Track for Record High www.montsame.mn

“Ulaanbaatar Railway” JSC transported more than 33 million tonnes of freight last year, while nearly 20 million tonnes were transported in the first seven months of this year.

Based on the current figures, Mongolia’s rail freight volume is expected to reach a historic high by the end of the year.

Minister of Road and Transport Delgersaikhan Borkhuu noted this during a meeting with Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, where the two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the transport sector.

As part of Mongolia-Russia cooperation, the mobile consultation and diagnostic center operated from the “St. Panteleimon” medical train in Mongolia, providing medical care and services to more than 2,800 people between May 18 and June 4 this year.

Special Strategic Partnership with Japan reaffirmed www.ubpost.mn

President U.Khurelsukh received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who paid an official visit to Mongolia, with the two sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the countries’ “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.”

President U.Khurelsukh said the visit by Japan’s Foreign Minister reflects the high level to which bilateral relations have developed, stressing that Japan, as one of Mongolia’s key “third neighbors” and a country sharing common democratic values, remains an important priority of Mongolia’s foreign policy. The president highlighted the state visit to Mongolia by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in 2025, including their attendance as guests of honor at the opening of the National Naadam Festival, describing the historic visit as an important milestone in bilateral relations. He asked Foreign Minister Motegi to convey his warm greetings to Their Majesties.

President U.Khurelsukh also expressed Mongolia’s appreciation to successive Japanese governments and the Japanese people for their longstanding contribution to Mongolia’s transition to a market economy, as well as to the country’s democratic development, protection of human rights and freedoms, and social and economic stability. The two sides welcomed the agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport through a concessional loan from the Government of Japan, describing the airport as a major symbol of bilateral cooperation. Foreign Minister Motegi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to implementing the 2022-2031 Action Plan under the Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and to further expanding and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi also paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the Parliament S.Byambatsogt who emphasized that deepening friendly relations and cooperation with Japan, a third neighbor with shared democratic values, is one of Mongolia’s foreign-policy priorities. The two sides noted the important role played by relations between the Mongolian and Japanese parliaments in strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation. They agreed to regularize reciprocal parliamentary visits and further strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ parliamentary friendship groups.

S.Byambatsogt welcomed Japan’s work toward expanding Chinggis Khaan International Airport and increasing its capacity through an official development assistance yen loan. Recalling his tenure as Minister of Road and Transport, S.Byambatsogt said Mongolia’s air transport liberalization policy had contributed to a three- to fourfold increase in passenger traffic and direct flight frequencies in 2023, while airfares declined by about threefold. Domestic flights that had previously been suspended were also restored, with services now reaching eight provinces, primarily benefiting elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities.

He noted that the number of passengers using Chinggis Khaan International Airport had increased from about 600,000 in 2022 to roughly four times that level in 2025, placing increasing pressure on the airport’s capacity. S.Byambatsogt further proposed transferring domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport, saying the move could provide faster and more affordable access for some 60,000 Mongolian citizens, particularly elderly people, pregnant women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities. The speaker also emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties as a key pillar of the Mongolia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership.

He noted that under the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, more than 5,700 categories of Mongolian goods have access to the Japanese market duty-free. However, he said Mongolia’s exports to Japan have declined from their 2015 level due to various challenges, underscoring the need for greater joint efforts to create a more balanced trade relationship. S.Byambatsogt also pointed to growing people-to-people ties, noting that around 21,000 Mongolian citizens are currently studying and working in Japan. He called on Japan to consider visa-free entry for Mongolian citizens making short-term visits to the country.

Foreign Minister Motegi said Japan seeks to further intensify trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the Special Strategic Partnership. He also confirmed that the Japanese government had reached an agreement in principle to expand and increase the capacity of Chinggis Khaan International Airport using concessional financing under Japan’s official development assistance program.

The Japanese Foreign Minister also said he would give particular attention to the speaker’s proposals concerning the transfer of domestic flights to Buyant-Ukhaa Airport and the possibility of visa-free travel for Mongolian citizens visiting Japan for short periods. The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation, including learning from the respective experiences of the two governments and parliaments and incorporating relevant practices into legislative work, ensuring that the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement reach businesses and citizens more directly, and issues related to the double taxation agreement.

Who is Happier — Mongolia or Russia? www.open.kg

The World Happiness Report for 2026 has been officially published, presenting an updated ranking of countries. According to this report, based on global Gallup surveys, Mongolia ranks 75th among 147 countries with a score of 5.936, while Russia is in 79th place with a result of 5.834. This study highlights that the residents of Mongolia rate their happiness higher than Russians, as noted by the author of MongolianNews.

Comparative Analysis of Happiness Factors

Although Mongolia and Russia are close in overall score, the key aspects that shape the feeling of happiness differ significantly.

1. GDP per capita
Russia demonstrates a higher level due to its rich natural resources and developed industrialization, which provides it with better economic indicators per capita. Mongolia, despite the development of its mining sector, still lags behind in this aspect.

2. Social Support
Mongolia benefits from strong familial ties and family values, allowing residents to feel more secure. In Russia, due to the peculiarities of life in megacities and social stresses, the level of trust among people is lower.

3. Healthy Life Expectancy
Here, Russia is slightly ahead due to a more developed healthcare system. Mongolia, while improving its indicators, faces challenges related to diseases and environmental pollution.

4. Freedom to Choose Life
Mongolia significantly outpaces Russia in this aspect, offering its citizens more opportunities for self-expression and business. In Russia, there are strict restrictions, leading to a sense of insecurity among citizens.

5. Generosity
Mongolians show a high degree of mutual assistance and willingness to help each other, especially in rural areas. In Russia, however, the index of charity and mutual aid is lower.

6. Perception of Corruption
In both countries, the situation with corruption raises serious concerns, but in Mongolia, residents have the opportunity to criticize and fight against it, which reduces psychological pressure compared to Russia, where corruption is deeply entrenched.

Research Conclusions

Despite Russia's superiority in economic potential and healthcare indicators, Mongolia significantly outperforms its neighbor in aspects of personal freedom, social atmosphere, and generosity. The sense of freedom and warm human relationships have become decisive factors that allowed Mongolia to take 75th place in the global ranking.

PM Uchral Urges Effective Implementation of Interim Trade Agreement www.montsame.mn

 Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk has paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Mongolia Uchral Nyam-Osor to discuss bilateral cooperation in transport, trade and the economy, as well as fuel and petroleum product supplies.

Prime Minister Uchral emphasized the importance of regularly reviewing and assessing the results of work carried out by the two sides. In particular, he called for efforts to remove obstacles to the effective implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union, which entered into force in July this year, and to ensure its effective implementation.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said the two sides had discussed in Minsk the possibility of developing a roadmap to ensure implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement.

“I fully support the proposal you have put forward. We will work in Mongolia and report the results of our work to the Prime Minister,” Overchuk said.

The two sides also agreed on the importance of ensuring reliable supplies of gasoline and petroleum products from Russia and effectively implementing the agreements reached at high-level bilateral meetings.

140 million trees planted under Mongolia’s Billion Trees national movement www.gogo.mn

A total of 140 million trees have been planted as part of Mongolia’s Billion Trees national movement, an initiative aimed at combating desertification and improving the country’s environment.

A new information system has been launched to provide comprehensive data on the progress and results of the Billion Trees national movement.

The system provides detailed information on tree-planting projects and programs implemented across Mongolia, including where and how many trees have been planted, the provinces and enterprises with the highest levels of participation, available planting stock, and the survival and growth of planted trees. The information is available in five United Nations official languages.

The platform was developed using more than five years of data collected by the Forest Agency under the government. The system is being continuously improved and updated in cooperation with the Forest Agency and young members of the “Billion Trees Movement” NGO.

Viet Nam seeks fresh momentum for relations with RoK, Mongolia www.en.qdnd.vn

The official visits to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Mongolia by President of the National Assembly (N.A.) Tran Thanh Man reaffirm Viet Nam’s commitment to further developing its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the RoK and Comprehensive Partnership with Mongolia in an increasingly substantive, effective and sustainable manner, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has said.

Talking to the press ahead of the visits, Vu said the trips, scheduled for September 6–11, are significant to implementing the foreign policy set out by the 14th National Party Congress and Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, while concretizing the orientations and agreements reached by Viet Nam's senior leaders with the two partners.

Vu said the fact that N.A. President Man is making his first official visits to the two countries in his current capacity demonstrates Viet Nam’s high regard for relations with the RoK and Mongolia, as well as the important role of parliamentary diplomacy.

The visit to the RoK, five years after the previous trip by a Vietnamese N.A. leader, will help implement the high-level commitments, including the joint statement on further enhancing the Viet Nam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. At the same time, the two sides are expected to promote cooperation in defense, security, the economy, trade, investment and labor, and expand ties into emerging fields such as strategic technologies and renewable energy.

For Mongolia, the visit is the first by a Vietnamese N.A. leader since 2003 and is expected to inject fresh momentum into the Comprehensive Partnership, particularly in areas with substantial potential, including trade, renewable energy, science – technology, culture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges, he added.

During the trips, the top legislator of Viet Nam and Korean and Mongolian leaders will discuss ways to strengthen substantive cooperation between the legislatures, including their specialized committees, parliamentary friendship groups, and young and women lawmakers. They are set to encourage their respective countries' governments to effectively implement the signed agreements, and bolster cooperation as well as mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums.

Vu noted that the RoK and Mongolia are both important partners of Viet Nam in Northeast Asia, with relations enjoying a solid political foundation and flourishing across various fields.

Viet Nam–RoK relations are currently at their best, he said. The two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. Political trust has been continuously strengthened through high- and all-level exchanges, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to the RoK in 2025 and the Korean President’s state visit to Viet Nam in April 2026.

The RoK is among Viet Nam’s leading trade, investment, labor and tourism partners. Their parliamentary ties have also grown strongly, with regular exchanges between NA leaders, specialized committees, parliamentary friendship groups, and young and women parliamentarians. A memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures was signed in November 2025.

Vu expressed his hope that the visit will improve the quality and effectiveness of bilateral ties, particularly in economic, trade and investment cooperation, and help leverage new growth drivers through science – technology, innovation and strategic technologies.

Regarding Mongolia, the deputy minister described it as a traditional friend and partner with longstanding ties with Viet Nam. The relationship reached a major milestone with General Secretary and President Lam’s visit in 2024, when the two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Partnership.

However, economic cooperation and ties in other fields have yet to match the two sides' potential and sound political relations, he said, expressing his hope that the coming trip will create a new and more substantive impetus for bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation, along with the development and future of both countries.

The official also expected stronger connections following the trip in such fields as mining, education – training, trade, tourism, people-to-people exchanges and, especially, renewable energy. The visit is also anticipated to facilitate the sharing of legislative and governance experience and help translate the signed high-level agreements into concrete projects, programs and benefits for businesses and people.

It is set to expand bilateral cooperation at multilateral parliamentary forums, contributing to the responses to regional and global issues such as sustainable development, desertification prevention, climate change response, peace and security, the protection of women and children from the adverse impacts of technology, and other non-traditional security challenges.

Vu expressed his confidence that N.A. President Man’s visits will significantly help consolidate and expand the partnerships with the RoK and Mongolia, meeting the interests of the countries' peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Source: VNA

V. Putin: Russian-Mongolian Relations are Cemented by the Blood of Our Ancestors www.open.kg

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, a meeting took place between the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. The main focus of the negotiations was on deepening strategic partnership, expanding trade ties, and modernizing infrastructure projects.
President Putin noted that the historical connections between the two countries remain strong:

“Our traditional friendly relations have grown into a full strategic partnership. Diplomatic relations have existed for 105 years, and their foundation was laid by the joint efforts of our ancestors who fought for Mongolia's freedom during the Great Patriotic War and at Khalkhin Gol. The Mongolian economy has developed with the active participation of our country,” said Putin.

Putin also expressed hope that the participation of the Mongolian delegation in the EEF-2026 would be an important step for further cooperation, adding that both sides would participate in the plenary session of the forum.

Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh confirmed Mongolia's commitment to deepening strategic relations with Russia. He emphasized the importance of implementing previously reached agreements, particularly those signed at the SCO summit in Bishkek. As an example of successful interaction, he mentioned the modernization of the Ulaanbaatar Railway and expressed readiness for new joint investment projects.

Furthermore, the parties noted a positive trend in trade: mutual trade turnover increased by 4.5% in the past year and by 18.1% in the first half of the current year. One of the factors contributing to this was the Temporary Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Mongolia, which came into effect in July.