The ceremony of handing over the standard management plan for the closure of the Salkhit silver and gold mine was held yesterday at the "Tuushin" hotel.

The mine closure pilot plan is to improve land use, to provide a healthy and safe living environment for the people in the mining area, and in general, to improve the social and economic benefits when the mine is closed. It is a complex activity to liquidate the infrastructure of the mine, restore the environment, and carry out environmental monitoring. Rehabilitating areas affected by mining activities in order to enable them to be used again sustainably has a positive effect on local communities and ecosystems.

Erdenes Silver Resource LLC, a daughter company of a group of state-owned mining companies Erdenes Mongol, was handed over "Mongolia: Enhancing Resource Management through Institutional Transformation" (MERIT) Project, implemented with the funding of the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. The project was fully implemented in two phases from September 2021 to June this year.

Erdenes Silver Resource LLC operates in the Salkhit silver and gold deposit located in Gurvansaikhan soum of Dundgobi aimag. Despite the fact that the exploitation of the Salkhit silver and gold deposit will continue for the next 8-10 years, the closure plan has been developed and presented. By accepting the standard mine closure management plan, the company assumes the responsibility of implementing the laws and regulations related to mine closure and rehabilitation and working as a pioneer in the further development of responsible mining. Ambassador of Canada to Mongolia Mrs. Catherine Ivkoff noted in her opening speech, "In advanced mining countries, closure plans are developed before the operations begin. Actually, the closure management plan goes hand in hand with the mine operations."

Mining industry participants in the ceremony emphasized that the management plan for the closure of the Salkhit mine will be a world-standard model that can be used in other mines in Mongolia.

Quite a number of mines have been closed in the past in Mongolia. However, first of all, the closures were done in different ways for a certain period of time due to various conditions of the mines, such as depletion of resources, and financial and economic conditions, as pointed out by the legal adviser of the MERIT project G. Surakhbayar.

In a sense, the mining sector of our country has developed intensively in the last 30 years with foreign and domestic investments, still, there is no history of closing mines based on rational, correct, and theoretical concepts. However, he emphasized the significance of this closure management plan as it is being implemented in Mongolia in accordance with world norms and standards.

During the visit of the Prime Minister of Mongolia L. Oyu-Erdene to China, Minister of Environment and Tourism B. Bat-Erdene met with representatives of 22 leading companies, including Chinese tourism group North China Region, CTG Travel Service Corporation Ltd., China Gaund Tourism Group, Ctrip International Travel Service, UTour Group Co., Ltd., and Tuniu Tour, etc., and introduced them new activities and events in the Mongolian tourism industry. The parties agreed to carry out the following activities between the two countries. They include:

• Reviving the tourism activities of three countries in the scope of the "Great Tea Road" ;

• Cooperation in border tourism;

• Cooperation with the online "Ctrip" agency to import and trade Mongolia's travel products;

• Providing comprehensive tourism support within the "Belt and Road" economic corridor;

• Cooperation with the TOP 22 Chinese tourism entrepreneurs in receiving Chinese tourists;

• Supporting investment in the tourism industry.

As part of the "Visit Mongolia Years" being implemented by the Government of Mongolia, our country aims to receive 400 thousand tourists from China.

The Head of China's Beijing Foreign Cultural and Trade Association, Pan Ching Lin, expressed support for collaboration and coordination between Mongolian and Chinese tourism companies for realizing the goal of receiving "One Million" tourists this year, specifically 400 thousand tourists from the southern neighbor. In addition, both sides emphasized that the Silk Road or "Belt and Road" project is an opportunity to start new relations in the field of tourism between the two countries.

In 2020, the Mongolian Government amended Law on Celebrations and extended the public holiday during the Naadam Festival from three days to five. This year, Mongolians will get a full week of holiday on 10-16 July.

Recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Naadam Festival unites Mongolians to celebrate their heritage, customs via an enthralling mix of sports and arts. Held every year from July 11-15, it is evidence of their long history, devotion to their nomadic culture, and unwavering national pride. Witness the vigour and spirit of Mongolia, as the whole country comes together in a proud display of majestic festivity.

Referred to as ‘Eriin Gurvan Naadam’, which translates to ‘Three Manly Sports’, it has its roots in the ancient Mongols’ nomadic culture and traditional way of life across the vast steppe. The festival features the three main activities – wrestling, horse racing, and archery, which are closely related to the history and culture of Mongolia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia B. Battsetseg held a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Ms. Catherine Colonna, who paid a visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Minister B. Battsetseg.

At the outset of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg expressed her gratitude to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Catherine Colonna for co-organizing the Female Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Ulaanbaatar and visiting Mongolia. Then, she expressed her delight at the fact that this collaboration is enriching the Mongolia-France bilateral relations and opening a new chapter of cooperation.

The Minister also affirmed her commitment to upgrading the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries to the strategic level and further advancing the agreement on investment issues by the two Heads of State.

For her part, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Ms. Catherine Colonna expressed her pleasure at visiting Mongolia as a follow-up to the historic visit of French President E. Macron. She also highlighted the special attention that their ministry is giving to the successful organization of a state visit by President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, scheduled for this autumn, to France and further strengthening the strategic common goals of the two countries.

Moreover, the Parties exchanged in-depth views on the bilateral and international relations of the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their cooperation within the UN and other international organizations.

Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ms. Helga Maria Schmid paid a courtesy call on President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on June 30.

During the meeting, the Parties had in-depth exchange of views on expanding the relations and cooperation in economic and environment sector between Mongolia and the OSCE, and other opportunities to implement joint programs and projects.

Ms. Helga Maria Schmid, Secretary General of the OSCE, participated in the Female Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, which was held on June 29-30. For her side, she affirmed the OSCE’s support for the “One Billion Trees” National Campaign, initiated by the president of Mongolia and readiness to cooperate on this initiative.

Mongolia joined the OSCE on November 21 2012, becoming the Organization's 57th participating State.

At the invitation of Speaker of Parliament G.Zandanshatar, speaker of the lower house of the Indian Parliament Om Birla will pay an official visit to Mongolia on July 6 to 9. During the visit, bilateral relations, inter-parliamentary cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest will be discussed.

The purpose of the visit is to strengthen Mongolia’s third neighbor policy, enrich the strategic partnership with new content, maintain the frequency of high-level dialogues, strengthen the relationship between the legislative bodies of the two countries, and expand and develop relations and cooperation in the fields of government, security, defense, trade, economy, culture and humanitarian.

Diplomatic relations between Mongolia and India were established on December 24, 1955. India was the first country outside the Socialist Bloc to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. India supported Mongolia in having UN and NAM memberships.

Mr Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) will be visiting Mongolia between 4-7 July. Secretary General Sannino will have the opportunity to meet with country’s senior government officials and representatives of civil society to discuss the way forward for expanding Mongolia and EU close partnership. The EU and Mongolia have developed strong bilateral relations over the past decades. This is the first high-level visit to Mongolia since 2018, after the outbreak of COVID-19.

EEAS SG Stefano Sannino

The objective of the Secretary General’s meetings is to take stock of relations between the EU and Mongolia, and to discuss global geopolitical challenges, peacekeeping and multilateralism.

Secretary General Stefano Sannino said “I am honoured and delighted for my first working visit to Mongolia. Mongolia and the European Union may be geographically distant, but close at heart. The two share the common values of democracy, human rights and rule of law. The EU is proud to be Mongolia’s third neighbour. I look forward to discovering more about the beautiful country and exploring opportunities to strengthen EU and Mongolia relations, especially in women in peacekeeping and security, and discuss on global geopolitical challenges and regional issues.”

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1989, EU and Mongolia have strengthened the partnership in various sectors and worked towards sustainable development together. Over the past years, EU-Mongolia bilateral relations have expanded exponentially, even more after opening the Delegation office in Ulaanbaatar in 2017.

The EEAS is the diplomatic services at the EU that carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of the European Union across the globe. As the Secretary General of the EEAS, Stefano Sannino provides strategic direction to the work of the service and an effective coordination on foreign policy between headquarter and the Delegations, with the EU institutions, with Member States counterparts, and with third countries through political dialogue.

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.

ROME – Missionaries in Mongolia have said locals are “shocked” by Pope Francis’s upcoming Aug. 31-Sept. 4 trip and see it as an opportune time to introduce Catholicism to the former Communist nation, where Catholics are a tiny minority and the faith is relatively unknown.

Speaking to journalists during a media roundtable, Salesian Father Jaroslav Vracovský, pastor of Shuvuu in Mongolia, said the people “are in shock” over the papal visit.

As a majority Buddhist nation, most people “don’t know who the pope is or why he is here. Most don’t know what’s going on or how important it is,” he said.

According to statistics by the Catholic nonprofit Aid to the Church in Need, Mongolia is 53 percent Tantric Buddhist, 39 percent atheist, 3 percent Muslim, 3 percent Shaman and 2 percent Christian.

“We are eager to have this experience, and to have the pope listen to missionaries and meet them face to face. This is our task, to introduce them to what is going on,” Vracovský said, saying he hopes to use the trip as “an occasion to introduce what is going on: Who is the pope, who is this pope? I am using this occasion to introduce what the Catholic Church is. We are looking forward to it.”

Similarly, Father Paul Leung, Salesian delegate in Mongolia, said it is not only Mongolia’s 1,500 Catholics who are surprised by the papal visit, but everyone is.

“People never thought the pope would visit, they never thought of that, so now they are preparing to meet the Holy Father,” he said, saying Mongolia’s nomadic culture is traditionally “very welcoming,” and people are “eagerly” preparing for the pope’s arrival.

Leung said the papal trip is an important moment for Mongolians, an is “a good opportunity to widen the vision of our Catholics here, because Mongolia is a completely closed country. It is enclosed by Russia and China.”

“It is a really positive thing for the Church here. For Mongolians here, even though they are not faithful, they are surprised and want to know who the Holy Father is…Even some Catholics ask, why is the Holy Father coming, for what purpose? It is a good opportunity to introduce the Catholic Church to them,” he said.

The formal itinerary of the trip has yet to be released, but it’s expected the pope will spend most of his time in the country’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar.

In keeping with his attention to the global peripheries, Francis last year named the apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, then-Bishop Giorgio Marengo, as a cardinal, giving him a red hat and appointing him as a member to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.

Beyond the pastoral interest in visiting Mongolia’s tiny Catholic population, many have speculated that regional geopolitics is another motive for the pope’s visit, given that Mongolia shares borders with both China and Russia, two countries currently of extreme interest to the Vatican.

For the past year and a half Pope Francis has been engaged in peace efforts for the war between Russian and Ukraine. He has repeatedly offered for the Vatican to serve as mediator, and his personal peace envoy recently closed visits to both Kyiv and Moscow.

China is also of keen interest to the Holy See, which signed a secret provisional agreement on episcopal appointments with the Chinese in 2018. Though that controversial deal has been fiercely debated, it has twice been renewed, with Vatican officials repeatedly stressing the potential long-term payoff of dialogue.

Asked about Chinese influence on Mongolia society, Leung said that traditionally, China and Mongolia were enemies, “so even today many Mongolians don’t like China.”

“Of course, they are neighbors, and economically Mongolia and China are together, especially Mongolia is reliant on China, that is true, but for Mongolians, many of them don’t like the Chinese,” he said.

Despite this lingering cultural distaste, China has a clear economic and political influence, yet when it comes to the faith, China holds no sway, Leung said, but voiced his belief that many Chinese Catholics will likely come to Mongolia for the pope’s visit.

“It’s an opportunity for Chinese faithful to meet the Holy Father, because to go to Italy is more difficult, but going to Mongolia is easier for them,” he said.

Speaking of Russia and the impact of the country’s war with Ukraine, Vracovský said traditionally Mongolians are friendlier toward Russia, and that the connection with the country “is still strong.”

The Ukraine war “is a bit distant” from their daily reality, but Mongolians want peace, he said, saying many “can’t understand what is going on.”

Despite Mongolians’ general support of Russia, “I can’t say they are going against Ukraine,” Vracovský said, saying, “their wish is, let there be peace in Ukraine. The topic is distant to them.”

Vracovský said he does not know whether Pope Francis will specifically address the Ukraine war while he is in Mongolia, but expects the pontiff to deliver a message of peace regardless, as he often does when he travels and because his voice holds weight in the international community.

Leung said he expects the pope’s visit to focus more on “pastoral things, it’s a pastoral visit.”

Politically, China holds more influence than Russia does, he said, but voiced his conviction that “the visit to Mongolia is more about pastoral than political things.”

Leung and Vracovský also spoke about Catholicism and relations with other religions in Mongolia, where there are just 1,500 local Catholics, with a small number of foreigners also present in the community.

Catholicism, Leung said, has been present in Mongolia since the 13th century, but it has experienced “many changes.” Currently, there are around 77 missionaries from 10 congregations serving the country’s Catholic population, three of whom are male communities and seven are women’s religious orders.

There is still a shortage of priests, as more are needed for the celebration of Masses and other liturgical events. The Salesians themselves, Leung said, number around 10 and have three community houses throughout the country.

In terms of relations with other faith communities, Leung said “There is never any conflict.”

Most Mongolians are atheist, he said, noting that for 70 years the country lived under the communist system, the effects of which can still be felt, especially when it comes to feelings about religion in general.

Those who are atheist “keep their distance from us…even other religions have the same problem,” Leung said, saying most who have faith are Tibetan Buddhists, but for many Mongolians, “religion is one thing, and social life is another thing. That is the influence of the communist system.”

Other religions generally hold the same position as Catholics, he said, saying they “have to cooperate, especially for some social issues.”

Vracovský said there are also many Mongolians who are Shamanists, and that the relationship between the various religious communities “is quite good.”

For the Catholic community, “we would like to be not only promoting Catholic faith and Jesus Christ, but also full human development. Helping the poor people with education, helping in the villages. Through social service we are accepted,” he said.

Many who receive assistance from the Catholic Church ask about the faith, he said, noting that religious practice is different for Mongolian Catholics than it is for Catholics in Europe or elsewhere in the world.

“Outside of Mongolia, Catholics only go for Mass. It’s not like Mongolia, because we must have something after that. If you show up to a small parish, you have some activities before the Mass: activities for children, even for adults, crafts. After Mass, a food program,” he said.

Many people don’t have lunch during the day, so the parishes offer soup after Mass and host activities for both adults and children, Vracovský said, noting that many people who come are not baptized, but they appreciate the assistance and the activities.

Non-Catholics who come are able to “grasp a bit of the faith,” Vracovský said, so as pastors, “we accompany them to baptism, accompany them in school, but to accompany them all the way is not easy” given the sparse population of Mongolia, which is home to around 3 million people and where livestock outnumber humans at a ratio of nearly 20 to 1.

Leung said the papal trip will also be a good learning experience for the Mongolian government and its political leaders, as many are unfamiliar with the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis was invited to visit Mongolia during last year’s consistory, when Marengo received his red hat. A small delegation from the Mongolia government met with the pope privately at the Vatican for the occasion and presented an official letter of invitation to visit, he said.

“Of course, for them, maybe they are not really so clear that they are inviting the Holy Father also as a religious leader…they invited the Holy Father mainly as the leader of a country, the president of the Vatican country, to visit,” he said.

To this end, he said that amid preparations, as the Vatican commission arranging the logistics of the visit met with Mongolian officials to find a location for a public Mass, initially “they didn’t know what Mass was,” and it had to be explained.

Now, government officials are more informed, he said, saying, “I think this is a fairly big change for the leaders in the government. This will also have a very positive impact for people here, I’m very convinced of that.”

Vracovský said that in terms of how the pope is seen by Mongolian politicians, Francis is “considered a man of dialogue, a man of peace and fraternity” and as a “democratic partner” with whom they can “move forward in some cooperation and collaboration.”

Yet despite the political implications of the visit, Vracovský said that ultimately, “the target group of the church is the ‘last ones’.”

“I am among the poorest of the poor people here,” he said, saying this is the community that Pope Francis is coming to meet.

Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter: @eliseannallen