Sixth Conference of the Mongolian People’s Party Convenes www.montsame.mn

On May 21, 2025, the Sixth Conference of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) was held, and today, May 22, 2025, the decisions made at the Conference were announced.
Secretary-General of the MPP Sodbaatar Yangug said, “The Conference discussed the political speech delivered by Prime Minister of Mongolia and Chairman of the MPP Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai. More than 40 members raised questions following the presentation, and after the discussion, a resolution was adopted to issue a political conclusion on the Joint Government. Based on the criticism voiced by the MPP members of primary and mid-level units, a decision was made to continue the ‘New Recovery Policy’ and the Regional Development Action Program without involving any political party that violated the Joint Government Agreement. The Conference is our party’s central representative body. Thus, the decision passed by majority vote at the Conference will be introduced to other political parties currently serving in the Joint Government. As stipulated in the Joint Government Agreement, the matter will be introduced to the Policy Council, and next steps will be taken.”
The Joint Government currently has 12 Ministers from the Mongolian People’s Party, 8 Ministers from the Democratic Party, and 2 Ministers from the HUN Party.

Young Mongolians demand PM resign over corruption claims www.wfxg.com

President of the Republic of Austria to Pay a State Visit to Mongolia www.montsame.mn

At the invitation of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of the Republic of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen will pay a State Visit to Mongolia on May 25-28, 2025.
During the State Visit, the two Heads of State will hold official talks and discuss expanding bilateral relations and cooperation, the economy and investment, making joint contributions toward resolving global challenges, including climate change and desertification, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Also, a Mongolia–Austria Joint Declaration will be signed, along with agreements to deepen cooperation in social protection, finance, mineral resources, science, culture, and the arts. The two Presidents will hold a press briefing.
Mongolia and the Republic of Austria established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1963. This will be the first State Visit by the President of the Republic of Austria to Mongolia.

China Begins Construction of New Line to Mongolian Border www.railway.supply

China has launched the construction of a railway approach to the Gankemaodu/Gashuun Sukhait border crossing in Bayannur, strengthening its transport link with southern Mongolia. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
The works are progressing on a section that connects Chinese territory with Mongolia’s largest coal deposit — Tavan Tolgoi. This site holds vast reserves of coking and thermal coal crucial to industrial production.
In 2022, Mongolia completed a 258 km broad-gauge rail line between Tavan Tolgoi and Gashuun Sukhait. That project laid the foundation for integration with China’s rail system.
The Chinese section is being developed by China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy), the country’s leading coal-powered electricity producer. Completion is scheduled for early 2027.
China Strengthens Infrastructure Link with Mongolia
The new rail link will become the second active railway connection between the two countries. The first, Erenhot–Zamyn-Uud, has operated since 1956.
This project holds strategic value for both nations. It will boost Mongolia’s coal export capacity and enhance supply chain reliability for China.
China to Expand Freight Traffic and Coal Imports
The new corridor is expected to handle around 30 million tons of cargo annually. This will create additional logistics capacity and reinforce Mongolia’s export strength.
Forecasts suggest Mongolia’s annual coal exports could grow to 165 million tons. The new railway will play a significant role in advancing regional trade.

Indonesian coal shipments to China slide amid new benchmark push www.reuters.com

Coal imports from China's largest supplier Indonesia tumbled 20% to 14.286 million tons in April, customs data showed on Tuesday, as Chinese buyers rejected a push by Jakarta to use its government-set benchmark in international sales, in a bid to increase royalties.
Indonesia began using the new government-set price, known as HBA and previously used only to calculate royalties, on March 1 to exert more national control over the value of both domestic and export transactions for the fuel commodity, but traders complain the index is opaque and more expensive.
Also weighing on Indonesian imports were lower prices for domestic coal in China, which dragged down overall coal imports by 16% year-on-year in April.
Domestic prices are at four-year lows, cutting into profit for imported coal.
China's coal imports from other top suppliers also fell last month. Russian shipments fell 13% in April from the same month last year to 7.397 million metric tons, the data showed.
Moscow is planning to support its coal industry, hit by Western sanctions, with discounts on rail transportation rates and guaranteed exports, according to a letter seen by Reuters and reports from coal-producing regions, which could support shipments to neighbouring China going forward.
Imports from Mongolia, mostly of coking coal, dipped 3% to 7.014 million tons last month. Imports from Australia also declined 3% in the month to 6.97 million tons.
Below are the details of imports from key suppliers with volume in metric tons:
Country
April 2025
Year-on-year % change
Jan-April 2025
Year-on-year % change
Indonesia
14,285,823
-20%
66,871,048
-5%
Russia
7,397,488
-13%
27,372,699
2%
Mongolia
7,013,800
-3%
24,503,886
3%
Australia
6,969,476
-3%
23,419,364
2%

Mongolia and Indonesia Plan Visa-Free Travel www.en.tempo.co

Over 17,000 Participants Registered to Run in the “Ulaanbaatar Marathon-2025” International Race www.montsame.mn

Registration for the "Ulaanbaatar Marathon-2025"  will close today, on May 20, 2025.
As of today, a total of 17,744 participants have registered for this race. Among them, 2,951 have signed up for the shortest distance of 1.5 km, which is open to families as well as participants in wheelchairs and visually impaired individuals. The 5 km run attracted the most participants, with over 10,000 registered, while 2,369 participants signed up for the 10 km distance.
A total of 1,930 participants have registered for the 21km half marathon, categorized into age groups of 18-34, 35-54, and 55 and above. For the 42km full marathon, 280 participants have registered in the age group of 18 and above. Individuals with disabilities can also run in the 21km half marathon and 42km full marathon under their designated categories.
Bib numbers for participants in the 21km and 42km races are now being distributed at the Sports Palace and Khangarid Palace. Additionally, bib numbers are being provided to citizens who have registered for the 1.5km and 5km races at the offices of the Physical Education and Sports Committee in the nine districts of the Capital City.
Bib numbers for those registered to run in the "Ulaanbaatar Marathon 2025" are being distributed at the following locations.
-1st floor of the Sports Palace
-The large tent at Sukhbaatar Square
-Khangarid Palace, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar  
“Ulaanbaatar Marathon- 2025” will commence on May 24, 2025

ADB Launches New Partnership Strategy to Support Mongolia’s Diversified, Inclusive, and Sustainable Growth www.adb.org

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Mongolia for 2025–2028 to support diversified, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
Over the four-year CPS period, ADB’s operations will focus on three strategic priorities: promoting diversified and inclusive growth; strengthening sustainability and resilience; and advancing empowerment and opportunity. These priorities will be supported by crosscutting efforts to enhance private sector participation, accelerate climate action, strengthen governance and institutional capacity, drive digital transformation, and empower women and girls.
“Our new strategy aligns closely with Mongolia’s national development priorities, including the government action plan,” said ADB Country Director for Mongolia Shannon Cowlin. “It addresses key economic challenges such as the reliance on mineral exports and related macroeconomic vulnerabilities, while supporting private sector development and promoting growth in agribusiness, financial institutions, and renewable energy.”
Under the first priority, ADB will strengthen public sector and macroeconomic management through support for debt management, domestic resource mobilization, sovereign wealth fund development, and state-owned enterprise reform. It will promote private sector growth and access to finance by improving the country’s investment climate, advancing public–private partnerships, strengthening banking sector stability, and supporting critical minerals mining. ADB will also improve regional and domestic connectivity by enhancing transport infrastructure, lowering logistics costs, and facilitating trade.
To advance the second strategic priority, ADB will help improve institutional and policy frameworks for climate action, mobilize sustainable finance, and increase access to green loans and bonds. It will support rural and disaster resilience by developing agribusiness; strengthening food security; protecting the environment; and enhancing disaster preparedness, response, and risk financing.
ADB will also invest in sustainable and resilient infrastructure across urban and rural areas. This will include improving urban and transport services in ger areas in Ulaanbaatar, as well as aimag (provincial) and soum (district) centers, developing affordable and low-carbon housing, and supporting satellite cities. In the energy sector, ADB will accelerate the energy transition through reforms and investment, support electricity and heat decarbonization, and modernize the power grid through digital technologies.
Under the third priority, ADB will promote empowerment and opportunity by building a skilled workforce, strengthening health services, and advancing adaptive social protection. Education support will focus on technical and vocational training, inclusive foundational learning, and higher education aligned with labor market needs. In health, ADB will support hospital governance, primary care, emergency services, and the development of regional hospitals and health centers. Social protection efforts will include system reforms, better data for targeting, adaptive strategies, and labor market programs to reduce dependence on cash assistance.
In the four-year CPS period, ADB will continue to play a leading role in supporting Mongolia’s sustainable development through strong coordination across its sovereign, nonsovereign, advisory, and knowledge operations, and by maintaining close collaboration with development partners across all sectors.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.

Mongolia issues e-visas to 16,930 foreigners in first 4 months of 2025 www.xinhuanet.com

A total of 16,930 foreigners from 53 countries and regions were granted Mongolian electronic visas in the first four months of 2025, marking a 0.4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024, local media reported on Tuesday, citing Mongolia's Immigration Agency (MIA).
More than 2,282 visa applications were rejected by MIA in January-April due to missing paperwork, it said.
Currently, Mongolia's economy relies most heavily on the export of mineral resources. Tourism promotion is considered one of the priorities for diversifying the country's economy and improving the competitiveness of its tourism in the global market.
In view of this, the Mongolian government has decided to continue the "Years to Visit Mongolia" tourism program until 2028.
According to the Immigration Agency, electronic visas for foreigners were officially launched on Oct. 1, 2021. In 2024, Mongolia issued electronic visas to around 92,400 foreign citizens.

How the End of World War II Changed Mongolia’s Fate www.thediplomat.com

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied forces’ – the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union – defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II in 1945. In the general historical narrative, this era marked the beginning of a rule-based international order but also a start of another long conflict: the Cold War. To Mongolia, however, the end of WWII in 1945 marked something more nationalistic. After the war, Mongolia declared its independence and sovereignty and began to establish itself diplomatically on the world stage. 
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa attended the military parade celebrating Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, Russia. The Mongolian delegation included Defense Minister Byambatsogt Sandag, and the Mongolian Army marched through Red Square as part of the parade. 
In his remarks, Khurelsukh recollected Mongolia’s support and contribution to the Soviet Union’s war with Nazi Germany since day one. Khurelsukh also visited the “War Horses” monument along with veterans who served in the war. The “War Horses” monument was built in 2015, on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, to commemorate Mongolia’s supply of horses – along with wool and fur – to the Soviet Union during the war.
Mongolian heads-of-state previously participated in the Victory Day celebrations on major anniversary years: in 1995 (late President of Mongolia Ochirbat Puntsag), 2005 (Enkhbayar Nambar), 2010 (Elbegdorj Tsakhia), and 2015 (also Elbegdorj). 
When people talk about Mongolia, there is a tendency, whether intentional or unintentional, to reduce the country to the shadow of its two large neighbors: Russia and China. Sometimes the result is an obscured understanding of Mongolia’s historical significance and why certain global turning points – such as the Yalta Agreement – were history-making for Mongolia’s own political experience. Two such major events shaped Mongolia’s foreign policy, and its national identity, during the end of World War II. 
In February 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met for the Yalta Conference. According to the U.S. State Department’s summary, “At Yalta, Roosevelt and Churchill discussed with Stalin the conditions under which the Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan and all three agreed that, in exchange for potentially crucial Soviet participation in the Pacific theater, the Soviets would be granted a sphere of influence in Manchuria following Japan’s surrender.” 
This agreement also involved Outer Mongolia, which had declared independence from China in 1924 but was not yet widely recognized as a state. At Yalta, Stalin asked his wartime allies – the United States and the United Kingdom – to consent to Outer Mongolia’s maintaining of its “status quo.” Notably, China, then ruled by the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek, was not represented at the Yalta Conference.
It would be historically accurate to state that the Yalta Agreement, and the events that followed, decided Mongolia’s fate.
In August of 1945, the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance was signed. The agreement viewed Mongolia as a geostrategic buffer zone. Mongolian diplomat and historian Bayarkhuu Dashdorj wrote that accepting Mongolia’s sovereignty was one of the three things Stalin had demanded from his Chinese counterpart. Chiang, for his part, had tried to wrest back nominal control over Outer Mongolia, in exchange for offering “high autonomy” and allowing the positioning of Soviet troops in the territory. But Stalin refused Chiang’s “request to return the Mongolians to the Chinese sovereignty.” 
Two months after the signing of the Sino-Soviet Treaty, in October 1945, a national referendum declared Outer Mongolia an independent country, creating the Mongolian People’s Republic (MPR.) 
Mongolia’s alliance with the Soviet Union in both fronts of the war – against Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany – played a pivotal role to convince Joseph Stalin to support Mongolia’s independence. Stalin wanted to maintain that close relationship. To the Soviet Union, the Mongolia-Manchuria border was also both a strategic location as well as a point of vulnerability. Thus, Mongolia’s independent status was extremely important to the Soviets to protect their own borders against foreign invasion. 
The Mongolian leaders seized on this specific historical moment to cement their country’s independence by utilizing diplomacy and geopolitical mechanisms. In Mongolia, this feat is recognized and celebrated as a victory for national identity and determination. What Mongolia celebrates in May is not only the Allied Forces’ defeat of Nazi Germany, but also its own historical turning point that changed Mongolia’s international presence once and for all. The agreement by the major powers to maintain the existence of an independent Outer Mongolia forced Chiang to acquiesce. The October 1945 referendum ended an era of uncertainty. 
Many Mongolian historians and scholars argue that it was Mongolia’s own global diplomacy that allowed the country to be active on a world stage, thus convincing the great powers to see the significance of Outer Mongolia
While Mongolia recognizes the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and the year that marked the country’s independence, Ulaanbaatar is also aware that geopolitical circumstances are once again changing rapidly. The former allied forces – the U.S., the U.K., and Russia – that defeated Nazi Germany are no longer allies; their partnership fell apart almost immediately after the war. Today, relations between Russia and Europe are at their worst in decades due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 
Against that backdrop, Mongolia’s foreign policy continues to protect its national interests and recognize the traditional value of historical diplomacy, as evidenced by Khurelsukh’s visit to Moscow for Victory Day. However, Mongolia has evolved and modernized its way of foreign affairs and actively reaches out to its “third neighbor” partners as well. 
Given Mongolia’s landlocked position, balancing between China and Russia has always been a prerequisite for the successful application of its foreign policy agenda. Considering the current foreign and security issues, one can’t help but to wonder what global partnerships, and geopolitics will look like when the world celebrates the centennial anniversary of the end of World War II in 20 years. 
BY
Bolor Lkhaajav is a researcher specializing in Mongolia, China, Russia, Japan, East Asia, and the Americas. She holds an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies from the University of San Francisco.