Recently, Mongolia's foreign relations have been very active, with various visits of foreign government officials and the organization of major international events. One of these events is Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security, the international conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Strategic Studies of Mongolia. Mr. N. Ankhbayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been interviewed about the conference.

- How many visits and events has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized this year so far?

- Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized visits to more than 10 countries at the level of Minister, Deputy Minister, and State Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, representatives from almost the same number of foreign countries have visited Mongolia. Moreover, this month alone, we have scheduled the Meeting of Women Foreign Ministers, the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue international conference on Northeast Asian security, the Global Export Promotion Forum, and the Regional seminar on promoting women, peace, and security in Northeast Asia. We are actively preparing to host these major international events in Ulaanbaatar.

-Two events related to Northeast Asia will be held this month. Why does Mongolia focus on Northeast Asia?

- The regions of Northeast Asia and Central Asia and its peace, security, economic development, social development, and environmental issues are of great importance to Mongolia, which stretched over vast territories to the east and west, regionally part of both the two regions. Northeast Asia, with its majority population and potential priority role in future development, as diplomats and scholars consider still faces security threats arising due to state interests, geopolitical conflicts, territorial disputes, and mistrust. It also confronts traditional and non-traditional challenges, including the issue of nuclear weapons. The six-party talks initiated in Beijing in 2003 by diplomats from Russia, the United States, China, South Korea, North Korea, and Japan to address the Korean Peninsula issue have reached a stalemate.

Given Mongolia's traditionally friendly relations with all countries in Northeast Asia, including South Korea and North Korea, we believe we can contribute to regional peace, security, and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative was proposed as it aligns with our country's goal of consistently implementing a peace-loving, open, multi-pillar foreign policy and contributing to global and regional peace and security.

-Could you provide a brief introduction to the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative?

-Since the 1980s, before the end of the Cold War, our senior diplomats proposed numerous initiatives to establish a dialogue mechanism for the security of Northeast Asia. In 2001, Mongolia put forward an initiative to establish a dialogue mechanism for ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia. We raised the issue again in 2003, but due to the prevailing circumstances, it was not realized. Furthermore, we made constant efforts in this direction including organizing the international conference on "The Future of Central Asia and Northeast Asia's Security: New Helsinki" in 2008, as well as hosting the meetings of the bilateral working groups in charge of the normalization of North Korea-Japan relations in 2009 and 2012 in Ulaanbaatar. Finally, in 2013, our country initiated the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative.

- Now, could you elaborate on the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, the international conference on security issues in Northeast Asia?

-Under the framework of the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative, Mongolia has been organizing an annual conference on security issues in Northeast Asia since 2014. The conference, held in June each year, has become a traditional platform for discussing security issues in Northeast Asia and its solutions. It attracts participants not only from the region but also from Asia, the Pacific region, North America, and Europe. After a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we successfully held the seventh conference in 2022, both in-person and online. The eighth conference is scheduled to take place on the 15th and 16th of June.

The "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" is unique compared to other dialogue mechanisms in the region. It covers a wide range of issues and encourages open expression of opinions in an informal setting. The discussion format combines the first channel of official representatives and the second channel of academics, which helps prevent the dialogue from reaching a deadlock.

- With recent missile tests conducted by North Korea, is there hope for peace in Northeast Asia?

-In today's complicated international relations landscape, our country maintains a balanced foreign policy based on the main principles of our peace-loving, multi-pillar, and open approach. Diplomacy teaches us the importance of constantly seeking ways to continue the dialogue, even in tense and conflicted situations.

We believe that engaging North Korea in international dialogue is more effective than isolating the country. Despite the deadlock in the six-party talks and closed dialogue channels, we remain committed to this policy, which led us to launch the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative in the past. Regional countries have shown great support for our initiative.

- Will there be a representation of North Korea participating in the eighth international conference?

-We have extended an invitation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to participate in the conference. The door to the conference is always open to them. For the DPRK, the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" serves as an important platform to express its position, and its voice to be heard to the world and offers an opportunity to exchange views with other countries.

- What is the theme of this year's conference? How is it different from previous years?

-This year's conference marks the 10th anniversary of the "Ulaanbaatar Dialogue" initiative. It will be a conference that reviews the experiences, challenges, and achievements of the past 10 years while planning for the next 10 years. Over the past five years, the conference has been organized using a 1.5-channel format, which combines official representatives (first channel) and academics (second channel). In addition to Northeast Asian countries, more than 150 representatives from over 20 countries, including the Netherlands, France, Britain, Estonia, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan, as well as international organizations, and research centers have confirmed their participation. Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, will also take part. The high-level participation of the United Nations signifies its recognition of the conference's significance.

The main sessions of the conference will focus on topics namely, "Security Challenges and Opportunities in Northeast Asia," "Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia," "Future of Peace in Northeast Asia," "Economic Cooperation in Northeast Asia after the Pandemic," and "Promoting Energy Cooperation in Northeast Asia."

Rio Tinto will invest $1.1 billion to expand its “low-carbon” aluminum smelter at Complexe Jonquière in Quebec, Canada, the Anglo-Australian mining giant said on Monday.

The investment will boost annual capacity by about 160,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminum, the global miner said, adding it was sufficient to power 400,000 electric cars.

Pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions has prompted Rio, Alcoa Corp, and other aluminum manufacturers to launch a raft of products with lower carbon emissions.

The Canadian government has been involved in such efforts. It has invested in the ELYSIS technology pioneered by Alcoa and Rio Tinto that eliminates all CO2 emissions and replaces them with oxygen.

“This announcement brings us one step closer to the deployment of the first ELYSIS pots, which will make Quebec the leader in greenhouse gas-free aluminum production,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec’s minister of economy, innovation and energy.

The Quebec government will provide up to $113 million in support for the latest smelter expansion.

“This is the most significant investment in our aluminum business for more than a decade…,” Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said.

Construction will run over two-and-a-half years, with commissioning of the new pots expected to start in the first half of 2026 and the smelter fully ramped up by the end of 2026.

The project will create up to 1,000 jobs during peak construction, with about 100 permanent jobs.

The investment has been factored into the capital expenditure for 2023 to 2025, Rio Tinto said, retaining the capex guidance of $9 billion to $10 billion for 2024 and 2025.

The expansion will coincide with the gradual closure of potrooms at the Arvida smelter on the same site, Rio said.

Rio and the Canadian government also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen supply chains for low-carbon primary metals, critical minerals and other value-added products, the miner said.

(By Harish Sridharan; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

The 9th Meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee convened in Ulaanbaatar on June 5, 2023. The meeting was chaired by Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of "Erdenes Mongol" LLC, and Mr.Hans-Christoph Brumberg, CEO and Asia Regional Director of “WPD” LLC, which operates in the field of development and financing of renewable energy projects, the head of the German side of the committee.

Representatives from private enterprises and organizations of the two countries participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions on the possibilities of developing business cooperation.

We have discussed and got detailed clarification from Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of "Erdenes Mongol" LLC, about the issues discussed at the meeting and the results of the meeting.

-First of all, please tell us about when was the Mongolian-German Economic Committee established and what are its responsibilities.

The representatives of the meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee aim to make a real contribution to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. The Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on "Cooperation in Minerals, Industry and Technology" was first signed in October 2011.

The Economic Committee has an important role in implementing the agreement, connecting Mongolian and German business owners, opening the doors to joint projects and programs, presenting the policies implemented by the governments of the two countries to business owners, and thus strengthening the relations between the economy and citizens of the two countries.

-What is the level of economic cooperation between the two countries?

Mongolia established diplomatic relations with Germany in 1974. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After the pandemic, trade, and economic cooperation between the two countries have been restored, and by 2022, the trade turnover has reached 208 million US dollars. Out of this, the total export amount reached 26.0 million US dollars and the total import amount reached 182.8 million US dollars. Mongolia mainly exported food and agricultural staples and imported technical equipment, staple food products, and petroleum products from Germany.

Relations and cooperation between the two countries are rapidly developing in the defense, education, culture, environment, and humanitarian sectors.

-What issues were discussed at this 9th Meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic Committee?

More than 80 participants representing 40 entities from the mining, renewable energy, logistics, and education sectors participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions on the development of cooperation. Also, private sector enterprises and organizations showcased their prospective projects, while government ministries presented policy and legislative reforms.

-In which fields of the economy did the Mongolian side express their interest in cooperation with Germany?

Specific proposals for cooperation in the fields of minerals, renewable energy, education, transport, and logistics were made at this meeting. For example, it has been emphasized that the primary focus of our bilateral cooperation should be on facilitating German investment in the exploration, extraction, and processing of critical and rare minerals to foster a sustainable supply from Mongolia.

The two countries believe that it is possible to jointly implement large-scale projects in the mineral and industrial sectors. For example, to process iron ore and produce high-quality steel. In addition, it has discussed the possibility of increasing the investment of German companies for conveyor systems in the stripping and extraction of open-pit mines. They expressed their interest in mutually beneficial cooperation by establishing a clear direction for partnership in collaborative research, exploration, extraction, and processing of specific rare metals and rare earth elements.

-What are the solutions for renewable energy cooperation between the two countries?

Considering the persistent challenges faced by the wind power plant project over the years, it is deemed essential to present the following proposals to the intergovernmental working group as a top priority in this sector.

There is a need for cooperation between the parties in the implementation of the wind farm contract.

In addition, we noted in the conclusion of the meeting that exploring alternative solutions and technological advancements to make further opportunities through government grants and support for generating non-fluctuating electricity at the wind plants, which have been commissioned by private sector investors from Germany should be considered.

-What solutions do you see at the government level to solve the problem of the high cost of renewable energy production?

It is suggested to issue a governmental decision that promotes the establishment of a systematic framework for collecting renewable energy payments in one dedicated account or fund and use that fund only for the purpose of addressing the challenges associated with renewable energy production.

In addition, in case of building a new renewable energy station in the future, it is advisable to provide the standard technological requirements for the construction of the station in the combined form of solar and wind with an energy storage solution and ensure its implementation.

-What are the possibilities of cooperation with Germany in the field of education?

Within the framework of supporting companies investing in and operating in the mining and renewable energy, it was considered possible to strengthen the infrastructure of teaching and research laboratories in Mongolian universities and foster the advancement of specialized training programs. In particular, both parties agreed to diversify the activities of the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource and Technology in Nalaikh in the field of science and technology.

In this context, relevant institutions from both countries must collaborate to ensure that students from the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource and Technology, as well as those studying specialized professions in Germany, have the opportunity to receive training within German-invested companies operating in Mongolia.

-From the German side, they made an offer that can be implemented in the air transport sector in our country. What was their offer?

Given the vastness of Mongolia, the German side presented that it is possible to develop the general aviation sector, which is low-cost flight services with small helicopters. As it is important for the development of mining and tourism, the parties agreed during the negotiations that the civil aviation authorities of the two countries should work together to come up with specific solutions in a short period of time.

To summarize, the 9th meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic Committee concluded successfully, promoting new ideas and initiatives among the two countries' private sector institutions, addressing the challenges faced by these institutions, and proposing viable solutions.

Mongolia ranked 74th in the UN e-Government Development Index in 2022, moving up from 92nd (by 18 positions) in two years. Mongolia ranked 92 out of 193 countries in the UN e-government ranking in 2020.

This list is determined by indicators of online service, human capital and communication infrastructure.

The growing role of e-government in promoting participatory and inclusive development is accompanied by the growing demand for transparency and accountability in all regions of the world.

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon will visit Mongolia on June 12 to take part in the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue.

The Dialogue is co-hosted by the Mongolian Parliament, Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, and Ewha Womans University. It will take place in Ulaanbaatar on June 13-14.

The event is aimed at stimulating cooperative action toward achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and expediting the implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Ban Ki-moon first visited Mongolia in 2006 when he was the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. He has since visited Mongolia in 2009 and 2019 while serving as UN Secretary General.

The prime minister’s trade envoy to Mongolia lobbied the Electoral Commission to permit a £10,000 donation to his party association from a “Mongolian friend”, documents reveal.

Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, contacted the independent electoral watchdog on 20 April, days after his return from a week-long trip to Mongolia in his role as trade envoy, accompanied by the UK ambassador.

Kawczynski said the “Mongolian friend” was “a personal contact, and was separate to my role as an envoy”. He declined to identify the would-be donor and said he travelled to Mongolia on a regular basis in a personal capacity as well as in his role as trade envoy.

He told the commission he did “not understand why British passport holders should be treated differently from foreign passport holders when it comes to political parties” and requested a meeting at the House of Commons with the watchdog’s chief executive, Shaun McNally, to discuss his “concerns” on the longstanding political finance rules banning donations from overseas donors.

Kawczynski claimed that “many jurisdictions around the world” permitted political donations from foreign passport holders. Research by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, a UN observer, suggests 70% of countries ban foreign donations to political parties.

The letter was sent from Kawczynski’s parliamentary email address. The members’ handbook on the use of the taxpayer-funded accounts say they should not be used “for activities that could be considered party political campaigning or fundraising”.

In a statement, Kawczynski said that he used his Commons email as he “wanted to seek advice and clarification in my capacity as a regulated donee (a member of parliament)”.

Kawczynski added: “Throughout I have followed the prevailing law on political finance, and I took advice from the Electoral Commission to ensure that I do.”

In a subsequent call with the Guardian, Kawczynski confirmed the donation had been offered to his party association, not to him personally.

The email was copied to the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, the chief whip, Simon Hart, and to another member of the whips’ office, Jo Churchill.

Kawczynski said he included them in his email to the watchdog as part of his attempts to “understand, ask and challenge, collectively, with colleagues” the rules on electoral finance.

This thirst for knowledge came as he had a potential £10,000 donation offered to his local association. Kawczynski said he benefited from the resources of his local association. “They spend funds on literature, promoting me, and all the other things that they do to support me as the member of parliament.”

Kawczynski said taking a donation from a “nefarious state” would be inappropriate, but “taking it from a friend who you’ve known from many years from overseas and having the ability to secure donations from overseas donors is certainly for debate”.

“These rules and regulations shouldn’t be always constantly pickled in aspic in perpetuity. Things do change, and I think it’s perfectly permissible for parliamentarians, people at the cutting edge of trying to secure donations for their local parties, to be able to test and challenge and scrutinise and debate, yes.”

A government spokesperson said foreign political donations would remain banned, adding: “One of the Electoral Commission’s roles is to provide advice on such matters to political parties and regulated donees.”

Singapore will work with Mongolia to identify potential carbon projects that can yield carbon credits supporting the two countries’ climate ambitions, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Sunday (Jun 11).

MSE said that an interagency working group will be established with Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment to implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed last Friday.

The MOU was signed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Mongolia’s Minister for Environment and Tourism Bat-Erdene Bat-Ulzii. Fu said the MOU underscores the two countries’ commitment to collaborate on carbon markets, aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Article 6 establishes a carbon accounting mechanism known as “corresponding adjustment”, which ensures that countries correct their country-to-country carbon transfer and trading mechanisms towards their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This ensures that one carbon credit is not claimed by more than one entity.

NDCs are a country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to its climate impacts.

“Such cooperation is critical for countries to advance climate ambition and accelerate climate action,” Fu added.