'Sky Shuttle' Electric Public Transit System to Be Introduced in Ulaanbaatar www.montsame.mn

 A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with "BYD Company Limited" to introduce the "Sky Shuttle" electric transit system to Ulaanbaatar’s public transportation network. Under the preliminary agreement, the project's feasibility study will be finalized by December, with construction work set to begin in March 2027.

Purevdagva Byaruuzana, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, stated, "We are firmly committed to initiating BYD Group's 'Sky Shuttle' project as a top priority in 2027. Pursuant to the Governor's decree, a working group covering three main operational directions with BYD Group has been established, led by my senior advisor, Batbayasgalan J. The engineering and design work will be completed by December 5 this year. We aim to start construction in March 2027 and conduct trial operations of the battery-powered public transit system by November of the same year. The project will be implemented either through a competitive selection process or via a public-private partnership (PPP) model."

The "Sky Shuttle," a novel public transit solution, operates on electric batteries along dedicated elevated tracks.

Officials highlighted that this system will enable reliable public transit operations unimpeded by road traffic congestion. "BYD Company Limited" is a global leader in electric vehicles, battery technology, and renewable energy, having sold over 17 million electric vehicles worldwide.

In June 2026, BYD initiated a project to construct 20,000 ultra-fast charging stations capable of fully charging electric vehicles in nine minutes across China, with 7,000 stations completed to date. The "Sky Shuttle" system, powered by BYD's proprietary Blade Battery technology, is currently operational across 10 cities in China as well as in São Paulo, Brazil.

Construction Begins in Mongolia-China Heads of State Sports Complex www.montsame.mn

Construction of the "Mongolia-China Heads of State Sports Complex" has officially commenced.

The complex will be constructed on Hunnu Street in the 36th khoroo of Bayanzurkh district, Ulaanbaatar. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and Cao Li, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Mongolia, alongside other official representatives.

The President expressed gratification over the project's implementation within the framework of the Agreements on Economic and Technical Cooperation established between the governments of the two countries in 2018 and 2019, highlighting it as a tangible symbol of friendly relations, cooperation, mutual trust, and friendship between the peoples of both nations.

He emphasized that the complex holds significant importance in promoting sports development, fostering the talents of youth, and expanding opportunities for citizens of all ages to engage in physical culture and sports for a healthy, active lifestyle. The President further noted that the complex represents a major investment in the future of sports, serving as a venue for universal physical education, a launching pad for youth dreams, a training base for athletes to advance their achievements, and a space supporting healthy living.

On behalf of the people of Mongolia, President Khurelsukh expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping, as well as the Government and people of the PRC, for supporting and implementing the project.

Cao Li highlighted that the project, funded by RMB 779 million in grant aid from China, has received special attention from the heads of state of both countries and will deliver significant benefits to the Mongolian public. He also expressed confidence that completing and handing over the complex on schedule will mark a major event demonstrating the traditional friendly relations between China and Mongolia.

The sports complex will cover an area of 58,000 square meters, with a capacity to serve 10,000 people and enable approximately 6,000 youth daily to train across 19 sports disciplines. In addition, the facility will include playgrounds, sports commercial and service areas, and training halls, as well as sports diagnostics and rehabilitation rooms.

The general contractor, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation, plans to commission the sports complex in 2030.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ Ballet to Be Staged at Central Cultural Palace www.montsame.mn

The ballet “Romeo and Juliet”, composed by Sergei Prokofiev and based on William Shakespeare’s play, will be staged at the Central Cultural Palace on November 6 and 8. The performance is a joint production by the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Great Khaan Theatre.

The ballet, which will be performed at the venue for the first time, is directed by Dashlkhagva D., with Bat-Erdene S. as set designer, Telmuun-Ochir Ts. as conductor and Honored Artist Batchimeg G. as ballet coach. Natsagdorj D. will dance the role of Romeo, while Maral B. will portray Juliet.

One of the world’s most celebrated stories of love, “Romeo and Juliet” tells its timeless tale through music and dance. Shakespeare’s tragic story of two young lovers whose passion transcends hatred and even death will be brought to life on the Mongolian stage through ballet.

The ballet is based on Shakespeare’s play of the same name and is regarded as one of the masterpieces of the classical ballet repertoire. Prokofiev composed the music in 1935, and the score is considered one of his most acclaimed works.

ACWA and Sun Steppe Power explore 4.5GW project in Mongolia www.asian-power.com

ACWA has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Mongolia’s Sun Steppe Power to explore renewable electricity exports from Mongolia to China, including a potential cross-border project with a targeted capacity of 4.5 gigawatts (GW).

The agreement covers the development of renewable power generation projects in Mongolia, utility-scale battery storage for solar and wind power, and the transmission and export infrastructure needed to supply China or other markets agreed by both companies.

The proposed project would be supported by a 500-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system.

The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which runs through October 15 as part of Energy Week.

The signing took place in the presence of Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and ACWA Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

President Khurelsukh to Pay State Visit to Germany www.montsame.mn

President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa will pay a State Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany on October 19–22 at the invitation of President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The first visit to Germany by the Head of State of Mongolia in 14 years coincides with the centennial of the two nations' cooperation in education.

During the visit, the two Presidents will conduct formal discussions regarding the expansion and enhancement of mutually beneficial trade and economic relations, alongside cooperation in education, science, and culture. They will also sign a Joint Declaration between Mongolia and the Federal Republic of Germany to establish priority areas for the advancement and consolidation of their Strategic Partnership.

Also, the two Heads of State will attend the opening of the exhibition “Chinggis Khaan and the World of the Mongols” in Berlin.

The visit will also feature the Mongolia-Germany Business Forum, the Mongolia-Germany Science Day, an international academic conference titled “Mongolia and Cultural Exchange and Environment in Eurasia in the Post-Mongol Era” and an international academic conference dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of writer Natsagdorj Dashdorj.

President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid a State Visit to Mongolia in 2024 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit advanced their Comprehensive Partnership based on shared values to a Strategic Partnership, the Office of the President of Mongolia reported.

Zamiin-Uud Logistics Center to Handle 111,000 Containers This Year www.montsame.mn

President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa visited the Regional Logistics Center in Zamiin-Uud soum, Dornogobi aimag.

The center, a key hub in the economic corridor linking Russia, Mongolia and China, was commissioned in 2028 through cooperation between the Mongolian Government and the Asian Development Bank.

Spanning 128 hectares, the center has container handling, heavy-duty cargo and warehousing zones with capacity for 800 railcars a day. Its infrastructure includes 11.5 kilometers of rail tracks serving both broad-and standard-gauge lines, two 50-tonne gantry cranes, a 3,200-container yard and parking for 133 heavy-duty vehicles, as well as customs, repair and staff facilities and a two-level overpass.

The Zamiin-Uud Transshipment Unit operates around the clock across four main yards, transferring cargo arriving from China by rail and road between railcars and from trucks to railcars.

The center was established to increase import, export and transit cargo volumes, strengthening Mongolia’s potential to compete with other transport corridors connecting Asia and Europe.

Officials briefed the president that the facility has reduced transshipment times between railways with different track gauges, increased capacity at the country’s rail border crossing and boosted import, export and transit freight volumes, contributing to economic growth.

This year, the center is expected to handle 1.8 million tonnes of cargo, with the number of containers handled and loaded/unloaded reaching 111,000.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when air and road transport came to a complete halt, the Mongolian government reached an agreement with China to establish a designated cargo exchange point at the border. Under the arrangement, more than 26,000 containers carrying food, consumer goods, medicines and medical supplies were brought to the logistics center.

The facility has also loaded and supplied more than 30,000 rails needed for the development of Ulaanbaatar Railway, the Tavantolgoi Railway and the recently commissioned Bagakhangai-Khushig Valley-Emeelt railway line. 

Vehicle may have sparked Mongolia wildfire, putting China rescuers on high alert www.scmp.com

A grassland fire in Mongolia has raised fresh concerns in China, underscoring the recurring risk of cross-border environmental hazards.
This is not the first time an environmental disaster originating in Mongolia has threatened to cross the 4,700km (2,920-mile) border into China, with the impacts sometimes also affecting the Korean peninsula and Japan.

The blaze, which erupted on October 8 in the inland country’s easternmost Dornod province bordering Russia and China, advanced rapidly towards China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, driven by strong autumn winds and drought conditions.

China’s consulate general in Zamyn-Uud expressed Beijing’s concern over the steppe fire in a meeting with the province on Tuesday, urging timely updates and intensified firefighting operations. China was ready to support the rescue efforts, he said.

China has deployed 3,400 personnel, including professional firefighters and local emergency staff, along the border to respond to any possible incursion of the fire, state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday. Artificial precipitation also brought light rain to the fire’s front line, it said.

Emergency crews patrolling key sections of the border have been equipped with heavy equipment and have taken measures including suppressing cross-border flames, widening firebreaks and clearing combustible vegetation to intercept the advancing blaze.

Photos and videos released by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration show firefighters working at night to extinguish flames along a barbed-wire fence. Dry grassland can be seen burning on the Mongolian side.

According to Xinhua, the fire appeared to be under control as of Tuesday, with no visible flames or smoke points along the Chinese side of the border line. No casualties had been reported and local authorities would continue monitoring, it said.

Some local media reports have said the fire was caused by a vehicle belonging to Mobicom, Mongolia’s first mobile operator, whose representatives were in the area at the time.

Mongolian news outlet Eguur News reported on Thursday that a five-vehicle convoy led by a Mobicom director entered the protected area on October 8, with official permission.

However, one of the vehicles caught fire, ultimately sparking the wildfire, according to outlet Eguur News, citing a company statement.

Mobicom was founded as a joint venture between Mongolia’s Newcom Group and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, before being acquired by the Japanese telecom giant KDDI in 2016.

Mongolia’s National Emergency Management Agency said on Wednesday that the fire had been brought under control, with firefighters remaining on site to conduct mop-up operations and ensure full extinguishment.

Wildfires from Mongolia have crossed the border before. In April 2021, a fire that burned about 1,800 sq km (695 square miles) of Mongolia’s Sukhbaatar province spilled over to the Chinese side where it was blocked by the border patrol road and an emergency firebreak.

Unlike fires that can sometimes be contained through human intervention, dust storms cannot be stopped at any border.

Once strong winds lift sand and dust from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and degraded grasslands, the particles can travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres, reaching much of China’s northern provinces and occasionally as far as the Korean peninsula and Japan.

In March 2021, one of the most severe dust storms in a decade swept across Mongolia and northern China.

In Beijing, PM10 concentrations – a measure of inhalable particles that can harm human health – surged to the highest level in 10 years, with some local readings exceeding 9,000 micrograms per cubic metre. In Mongolia, the disaster killed at least 10 people, while hundreds of livestock were lost.

Another major dust storm struck Mongolia and northern China in March 2023, affecting more than 4 million sq km and reaching 20 Chinese provinces.

Other significant cross-border events in recent years have included a mixed dust-and-snowstorm in the Gobi Desert in April 2019 and a relatively rare autumn dust storm in October 2020.

Scientists attribute these recurring disasters to a combination of land degradation in Mongolia, driven by overgrazing and unsustainable development, and the intensifying warming, drought and extreme weather associated with global climate change.

Beijing has sought to address the cross-border hazards with its landlocked neighbour. Early environmental discussions began in the 2000s. However, formal joint action was slow to materialise until recent years.

In a joint statement issued during Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh’s state visit to China in 2022, the two countries pledged to strengthen cooperation on ecological and environmental protection, as well as desertification prevention and control.

The two sides signed a framework agreement in Ulaanbaatar in the following year to support Mongolia’s 1 billion trees initiative. They also launched the China-Mongolia Desertification Prevention and Control Cooperation Centre to coordinate joint anti-desertification initiatives.

BY
Liu Zhen
Liu Zhen joined the Post in 2015 as a reporter on the China desk. She previously worked with Reuters in Beijing.
Carol Yang
Carol joined the Post in January 2025 and covers the China's economy and diplomacy. Before this role, she worked for shipping media outlet Lloyd’s List in Shanghai

China-Mongolia trade deepens win-win cooperation, strengthening good-neighborly ties www.news.cgtn.com

China and Mongolia are important neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Amid a complex and evolving international landscape, while occasional discordant voices attempt to cast a shadow over bilateral ties, the ship of China-Mongolia economic and trade cooperation has continued to cut through the waves along a course of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. With tangible results, it has delivered real benefits to the peoples of both countries and injected positive energy into regional peace and stability.

Expanding trade scale and a stronger foundation for cooperation

Mongolia is rich in mineral resources, while China boasts a vast market and advanced technological expertise. This strong economic complementarity provides powerful endogenous momentum for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

According to Mongolian statistics, China-Mongolia trade reached $18.7 billion in 2025, accounting for 69.2% of Mongolia's total foreign trade. In terms of export structure, mineral products made up 92.6% of Mongolia's exports to China, while agricultural and livestock products accounted for 5.3%. This underscores the extent to which Mongolia's development is closely tied to China. For many consecutive years, China has remained Mongolia's largest trading partner and its largest export market.

From a longer-term perspective, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has maintained rapid growth. In 2025, cargo throughput to Mongolia at ports in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region exceeded 100 million tonnes, reaching a historic high. In the first two months of 2026 alone, throughput hit 20 million tonnes, up 54.6% year on year. Against the backdrop of a sluggish global trade recovery, such growth is particularly noteworthy. It not only highlights the strong resilience of China's economy and robust market demand, but also demonstrates the stability of bilateral cooperation beyond short-term fluctuations.

Accelerated connectivity and smoother cooperation channels

For landlocked countries, limited connectivity is often the biggest constraint on development. In recent years, under the framework of aligning China-Mongolia development strategies, infrastructure connectivity projects have delivered a series of landmark outcomes, providing strong support for sustained growth in bilateral trade.

From March 24 to 26, 2026, the annual meeting of the China-Mongolia Port Cooperation Working Group was held in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. The two sides reached consensus on 15 topics, including customs clearance facilitation, resource trade cooperation, and the development of smart ports, and jointly signed a meeting memorandum.

The improvement in port clearance capacity has been particularly notable. Take the Mandula Port as an example: In 2025, it completed a facilitation upgrade project, increasing its daily cargo handling capacity from 50,000 tonnes to 80,000 tonnes – a 60% boost in efficiency. By January 26, 2026, cargo throughput at the port had already surpassed 1 million tonnes, marking a strong start to the year.

Upgraded opening-up platforms and broader space for cooperation

If ports serve as windows for China-Mongolia economic and trade cooperation, various opening-up platforms act as high grounds for its upgrading. In 2026, Inner Mongolia is focusing on three priorities – upgrading comprehensive bonded zones, fostering cross-border e-commerce, and advancing the construction of China-Mongolia economic cooperation zones – to strengthen opening-up platforms and push forward the development of an important bridgehead for China's opening-up to the north at the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Particularly noteworthy is the construction of the China-Mongolia Erenhot-Zamyn-Uud economic cooperation zone. As a major platform jointly built by the two countries, it plans to complete 100 million yuan (14.47$ million) in infrastructure investment in 2026, launch five new and ongoing projects, and strive to attract three to seven high-quality enterprises to settle in the zone within the year. Once completed, this cross-border economic cooperation zone will become a new landmark for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, providing a more convenient environment for investment and trade.

Deeper alignment of rules and a more optimized business environment

High-quality development of economic and trade cooperation requires not only "hard connectivity," but also "soft connectivity." In recent years, both countries have made continuous efforts to align rules and standards and deepen financial cooperation.

In terms of regulatory alignment, China and Mongolia have steadily optimized processes in border inspection, customs clearance, and health quarantine. At the Ceke-Shiveekhuren Port, border authorities have established joint control and coordinated clearance mechanisms. Thanks to deepening cooperation across various fields, Mongolia has adopted 56 Chinese standards, covering sectors such as mining, construction, vehicle engineering, and railways.

Moving forward together to create a shared future

China and Mongolia are neighbors that cannot be moved apart and partners that cannot be separated. Looking back, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has grown from scratch and from small to large, achieving remarkable results. Looking ahead, the space for cooperation remains vast, and the potential for development remains immense.

As Shen Minjuan, Chinese ambassador to Mongolia, noted: "No matter how the international situation evolves, China will continue to be a trustworthy and reliable partner for Mongolia." This commitment is grounded not only in geographic proximity, but also in the proven practice of mutually beneficial cooperation. The alignment between China's 15th Five-Year Plan and Mongolia's new five-year development plan presents historic opportunities for strategic synergy.

Attempts to disrupt bilateral relations with discordant voices will ultimately fail to stem the tide of China-Mongolia cooperation. Standing at a new historical starting point, there is every reason to believe that such cooperation will continue to expand, bringing more tangible benefits to both peoples and making greater contributions to regional peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

Takhi Population Reaches 160 in Khomiin Tal Through International Cooperation www.montsame.mn

Corinne Pereira da Silva, Ambassador of France to Mongolia, visited Khomiin Tal National Park in Durvuljin soum, Zavkhan aimag, to review the progress of a program to reintroduce Takhi, or Przewalski’s horses.

At the initiative of the French association TAKH, 22 Takhi horses were brought from France to Khomiin Tal in 2004 and 2005 for reintroduction. The population has grown from 22 horses to about 160, with the animals now reproducing naturally in the wild. It marks a milestone in Mongolian-French cooperation on wildlife conservation.

Takhi horse, the world’s last surviving wild horse species, was considered extinct in the wild by the mid-20th century. Reintroduction efforts in Mongolia gained momentum in the 1990s. The species is now being reintroduced at Khustain Nuruu National Park, the “B” section of the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area and Khomiin Tal.

Beyond protecting the takhi, Khomiin Tal plays an important role in preserving steppe ecosystems and biodiversity. In 2025, the area was added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

According to UNESCO, the Khomiin Tal Biosphere Reserve covers 618,379 hectares. The conservation initiative demonstrates how international cooperation can help protect endangered species, preserve natural heritage and promote environmentally sustainable tourism that benefits local communities.

Dundgobi Builds 1.5-Hectare Pond to Boost Water Resources www.montsame.mn

On the initiative of “Eco Drywall” LLC and local herder Munkhtuvshin Ts., a 1.5-hectare retention pond has been constructed in Targat bagh, Delgerkhangai soum, Dundgobi aimag, designed to enhance deep groundwater yields and collect surplus water.

The water source, an artesian well continuously flowing under pressure since the 1980s, was re-drilled and restored to boost its output. Previously discharging 2 to 3 tonnes of water daily, the well now yields 40 to 60 tonnes per day.

To prevent surplus water from running off and wasting openly on the surface, it is channeled through underground piping to create an artificial retention pond spanning approximately 1.5 hectares.

In the Gobi region, conserving water resources and rationally utilizing underground water are crucial for mitigating pastureland degradation, expanding vegetation cover, and ensuring sustainable livestock farming.

Plans are underway to plant fodder crops and trees around the reservoir. This project is expected to build up livestock feed reserves, create green zones, retain soil moisture, and improve overall ecological conditions.

This joint initiative by a local business and a herder is notable for promoting efficient water resource usage, environmental protection, and green space expansion across the Gobi region.