This survey was sponsored by the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation of Germany.

Please see the full report on http://www.santmaral.org/…/politbarometer-1852-march-april-…

Damdin Tsogtbaatar, who is on a trip to the US, spoke to NHK over the phone on Saturday.

He stressed Ulan Bator 's friendly ties with Pyongyang and revealed that a Mongolian delegation is visiting North Korea to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Asked about the second US-North Korea summit which broke down in Hanoi, he said it was part of an ongoing process and urged observers not be disappointed. He added that Mongolia will continue to offer support and help set the stage for dialogue.

Tsogtbaatar also expressed concern over recent reports in North Korea's state media claiming the country has tested what it calls a "new type of tactical guided weapon." He described it as a provocative act that would have a negative impact on the current situation.

On the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North, Tsogtbaatar said his country has supported dialogue between Japan and North Korea and will continue its cooperation.

The day-long job fair was co-organized by the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the Confucius Institute at National University of Mongolia, in partnership with the China-Mongolia Cultural and Education Foundation and the Chinese Cultural Center in Ulan Bator, with the aim to offer employment opportunities for Chinese-speaking job seekers in Mongolia.

"China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries," Li Wei, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, said at the event.

She expressed confidence that the event will help Mongolian youth who are fluent in Chinese find suitable jobs.

For his part, Gombo Bumtsend, deputy director of Neighboring Countries Department at the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that in recent years, relations and cooperation between Mongolia and China have been rapidly expanding in a wide range of areas such as trade and economic sectors.

"The job fair is an important event to promote employment for Mongolian students and youth," he added.

Around 30 Chinese companies operating in Mongolia, including Bank of China Ulan Bator Representative Office and Air China Mongolia attended the event and introduced their job vacancies.

State Secretary D.Davaasuren paid courtesy call on Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Politburo member, Director of the International Department of the WPC, State Affairs Commission member, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Ri Su Yong and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho respectively. He also met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of DPRK Ri Gil Song and held consultative meeting between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

During the official talks, the parties emphasized that the countries have successfully overcame the challenges and maintained the traditional friendly relations thanks to sincere aspiration and friendship of the people of the two countries. The sides also exchanged views on regional issues and expansion of bilateral relations and cooperation.

Mongolia expressed its willingness to further develop existing traditional friendly relations with the DPRK and the strong commitment to addressing the issue of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful way. State Secretary D.Davaasuren also invited Korean delegation to participate in the Sixth International Conference on Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security to be held in June, 2019.

Thanks to that post, “Wolf Totem” bows at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, up 1,056% to 6,000 downloads sold in the week ending April 11, according to Nielsen Music. The Hu is the first act since Bad Wolves in February 2018 to top Hard Rock Digital Song Sales with its first charting song.

Additionally, “Yuve Yuve Yu,” debuts at No. 7 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales (3,000 sold, up 929%). Also drawing 272,000 U.S. streams, “Wolf Totem” debuts at No. 22 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Rock Songs chart.

Formed in 2016, the four-piece from Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar released the pair of songs last fall. The Hu incorporates traditional Mongolian instrumentation and throat singing into its music, resulting in material that’s often hard-hitting, though sans the sounds that most heavy metal acts might utilize, namely electric guitar.

After some initial buzz and media coverage in January, the songs, particularly “Wolf Totem,” have hit new heights thanks in large part to a viral Facebook post showcasing the track’s official video with the caption, “Mongolian metal is awesome.”

The Hu is currently prepping a debut album, Gereg, due via Eleven Seven Records.

The Mongolia Third-Neighbour Trade Act was introduced by Republican congressman Ted Yoho, who explains: ‘the bill is not just about imports of cashmere; it is smart policy that supports a strong, independent Mongolia that continues to be a beacon of freedom in the region and strategic partner of the Unites States. He said ‘It is estimated that this simple act will create upwards of 40,000 jobs primarily for women who make up 90 percent of the garment industry in Mongolia. We look forward the bill will be signed into law by President Donald Trump’.

The bill would support an important sector of Mongolian economy and reduce US imports of Chinese cashmere products. Mongolian cashmere is a brand and of itself.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation initially planned the first deliveries of the jet for 2008. However, the date was pushed back five times due to production difficulties. Orders for the aircraft that once totaled 474 units from US and Japanese carriers have been reportedly reduced to 407 jets so far.

The Japanese conglomerate, a longtime supplier of aircraft components to Boeing, invested over 600 billion yen ($5.36 billion) into MRJ as of March 2018 with another 200 billion yen ($1.8bn) expected to be pumped into the project by the end of 2020. In October, Mitsubishi announced plans to invest an extra 170 billion yen ($1.5bn) in capital into its aircraft unit, canceling 50 billion yen ($446mn) of the debt owed by the division.

The long-anticipated MRJ, which is designed for local air transportation, may become a peer competitor for such mainstays as Canada's Bombardier, whose C Series regional planes are marketed as the Airbus A220, after the 2017 acquisition of the unit by the European aerospace giant. The Japanese jet is also expected to provide keen competition to Brazil's Embraer that announced plans to create a joint venture for Embraer's airliners in 2018.

The newcomers in the sector of regional air service, such as the Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100 and the Chinese Comac ARJ21, which are currently undergoing test flights, may also challenge Airbus and Boeing.

Mitsubishi is currently involved in legal proceedings with Montreal–based Bombardier. In October, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer filed a lawsuit, accusing the Japanese corporation of stealing secret information and causing Bombardier “to suffer irreparable financial loss.”

Mitsubishi counter-sued, saying that the Canadian aircraft producer had violated antitrust regulations through “a multifaceted scheme to expand its power within the regional jet market by impeding the entrance of a new competing aircraft.”

Since 2012, the volume of the economy has expanded and the budget revenue outreached the trillion mark. As a result of mega projects in the mining industry, such as Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia's economy has developed its basic structure. Also, public expenditures, revenues, and investments have improved from the 1990s. The amount of capital that is being allocated from the budget to rural administrations is reaching billions of MNT. As a result, companies' investment in the public sector such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and road bidding are becoming more competitive.

However, some of the taxpayers' money is being wasted in the name of financial investment. In particular, the construction costs have exceeded budget allocation over the years. Many of the buildings, roads, and bridges that have not been completed after the election still remain as carcasses. Construction costs have been increased 2-5 times.

According to a survey conducted by the Open Society Forum, the Government budgeted MNT 2.5 trillion to finance 887 projects, activities, and constructions in 2019.

In general, major maintenances burden the budget. A total of MNT 84.9 billion has been planned for 75 major maintenance works this year. The maintenance budget is mainly expected to contribute to the transport sector.

Mongolia is expected to purchase 42 new equipment worth MNT 102.4 billion this year. If the MNT rate falls, this figure will rise. Analysts believe that budget management is deriving and that it is time to estimate the socio-economic efficiency of the budget.

Arab countries have shown great interest in cooperation with Beijing. Apart from joining the Belt and Road Initiative, 12 Arab states established strategic partnerships, including comprehensive ones, with China.

“The Arab representatives said the BRI cooperation with China brings immense opportunities to Arab countries to advance reform and accelerate growth,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told journalists at a news conference on Wednesday.

The Sino-Arab cooperation on the project is to receive another “strong impetus” as many Arab state leaders are expected to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held in Beijing later this month, according to the diplomat.

China is the second-largest trading partner for the Arab world with $190 billion trade turnover as of 2017, according to the assistant secretary general of the Arab League, Khalil Thawadi, as quoted by the Jordan Times. The official noted that 21 Arab states signed memoranda of understanding on the new Silk Road in 2018.

China’s ambitious global trade infrastructure project is expanding globally. This week, Switzerland showed its intention to sign up for the BRI. In March, Italy faced criticism from its European allies as it officially became the first G7 nation to join the initiative, and shortly afterwards, Luxembourg signed a memorandum of understanding on participation in the project. Memoranda of understanding were also signed by Greece and Portugal in August and December last year respectively.