Mongolia Brief August 20, 2014 Part I



Who Will Accompany President Xi During Visit?
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 20 (MONTSAME) Two members of the Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are expected to accompany Mr Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China, during his forthcoming state visit to Mongolia which will start on Friday.

The Foreign Minister of China Mr Wang Yi, who recently visited Mongolia, as well as some 80 high-level politicians, officials and media people have been included in the visiting group, 32 of whom are  engineering and technical staffers.
Mr Xi will also be accompanied by his spouse--former singer of China’s Military Ensemble Major-General Peng Liyuan. As planned, Ms Peng Liyuan will attend an opening ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Week that will take place at the Central Cultural Center.

Northeast Asian Mayors' Forum Successfully Finishes in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
August 20 (infomongolia.com) In the frameworks of "Friendly Ulaanbaatar" program, the Capital City Administration has successfully hosted the Northeast Asian Mayors' Forum themed "Sustainable and Inclusive Cities" in Ulaanbaatar on August 18-19, 2014.
At this Forum over 120 delegates from 20 cities of six Northeast Asian countries have attended, where main topics discussed were “Sustainable and Inclusive Cities”, “Urban Management and Service Supply-Technology, Innovation Practice", “Economic Development of Northeast Asian Cities”, and “Urban Environmental Management and Green Development”.
Also, the Asian Development Bank, the Asia Foundation and representatives of the United Nations made presentations and exchanged views on Asian cities’ urbanization trends and cities in Asia, the vulnerable people's participation in Asian economic development; the social inequality and poverty issues in Mongolia, economic development of the cities of North East Asia, Ulaanbaatar Administrative Services and Ger Areas Development Investment Program.
Following the Forum delegates agreed to organize such event every two years from now and the next Forum will be hosted in one of the Northeast Asian countries in 2016 until then Ulaanbaatar will be chairing the Forum as Secretary.
Moreover, Mayor of Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul received in his office delegates of some cities during the Forum and notable results from the meetings were establishing sister-city relations with Beijing right before the state visit of the President of China to Mongolia, and to expand economic and cultural cooperation with North Korea.
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Mayor E.Bat-Uul Requests Government of Japan to Support Ulaanbaatar Metro
August 20 (infomongolia.com) On August 20, 2014, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Erdene BAT-UUL received in his office the Japanese Parliamentary delegation headed by member of House of Representatives Mr. Issei Koga, where parties exchanged views on Ulaanbaatar city development issues.
At the beginning of meeting, Mayor E.Bat-Uul noted, “First of all, we would like to express our profound gratitude to Japanese People, Parliament and the Government for providing the first assistance to Mongolia during the difficult period of transition to democracy and a market economy in 1990s. The “Ulaanbaatar City Development Program Until 2020 and Tendencies Until 2030” have been developed with support of the Government of Japan, which were ratified by the State Great Khural (Parliament) and in order to continue this long-term program implementation, we need your assistance. Moreover, we would like to extend our request to the Government of Japan to support and paying attention on the issue of Ulaanbaatar Metro megaproject implementation”.
In response, Parliamentary member Issei Koga said, “We have noticed the rapid development of Ulaanbaatar in recent years and it is important to implement well the general city planning. Therefore we will be working to provide our support”.
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New Book Becomes Bestseller at "Internom"
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 20 (MONTSAME) The “Internom” bookstore Tuesday announced bestseller books sold between 11 and 17 of this month.
A translated book “Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism” by a Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang was on the top of the bestsellers. The author tells about the greatest success of South Korea and other countries with a help of the state policy on external trade and industries.
It was followed by "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" by Sheryl Sandberg who was in the list of 100 people of the year 2013 by the "Time".
The third one became a first volume of the "1Q84" by a Japanese Murakami Haruki. 
Other bestsellers were “Psychology”, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "Mongolians: 17-20th century" by S.Chuluun, “Sorkhugtani” by B.Sarantuya, “English-Mongolian, Mongolian-English” pocket dictionary, “Psychology”, “Unbelievable truth", and “Green-Eyed Monk” by Ts.Oyungerel. 

'Mongolian Horseman-2014' will be held
August 20 (news.mn) The national "Mongolian Horseman” has been held under the auspices of Prime Minister of Mongolia since 2013, and will be held this year at Khui Doloon Khudag, at 9:00 a.m. on August 23rd.
Mongolian Horseman has been held for 26 years in a row and is the nation's largest competition to prove the knowledge and skill of nomadic Mongolians blessed with a rich equine culture.
Twenty-one of the best horsemen selected from local competitions in 21 provinces will prove their power and courage, catching a horse with an uurga, or lasso, and training wild horses in the competition.

12 infants released from hospital following phenobarbital poisoning
August 20 (news.mn) Twelve infants out of sixteen being treated for ingesting excessive dosages of phenobarbital were released from intensive care at the National Centre for Maternal and Children's Health (NCMCH) and are now able to return home says the Director of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH), Sh.Enkhtur.
He says that all sixteen infants that received the excessive doses of phenobarbital have recovered from severe poisoning symptoms. Twelve of them are now able to leave the hospital and return to their homes. But four will remain in the hospital for treatment of jaundice and background check-ups that are not yet complete. The 12 infants between the ages of one to three months will be released to their guardians and district hospitals will conduct check-ups.
The parents of the poisoned infants want to ensure that there are no aftereffects from the phenobarbital poisoning in the future and demanded confirmation from health organizations.
Director of NCMCH Sh.Enkhtur said, “There will be no aftereffects of phenobarbital for the infants in the future."

Mongolia temporarily restricts issuing visas to travelers from West Africa
August 20 (news.mn) The Citizenship and Migration General Authority of Mongolia has temporarily restricted the issuing of visas to passport holders of the West African countries Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and Guinea, until a fast moving and fatal outbreak of the ebola virus has slowed down. The authority advises travelers with Mongolian passports to avoid traveling to or inviting someone to Mongolia from the West African countries hard-hit by the disease.
Twelve travelers with Mongolian passports recently arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where spread of the ebola virus is high.
The travelers show symptoms of ebola virus infection but they are now under the supervision of medical specialists.

'Khalkh Gol-75' exhibition opens
August 20 (news.mn) The “Khalkh gol-75” exhibition, as part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the victory at the Battles of Khalkh Gol, opened today, August 20, at the Mongolian Military Museum. At the opening ceremony, officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Defense Ministry of Mongolia were present.
The history exhibition is presented in five parts,  “Causes that led to the Battles of Khalkh Gol and early days”, “Battles in May”, “Air fights”, “Fights in Bayantsagaan: Headway attack”, and “Victory was announced”.

“Great Tea Road” Chinese Cultural Days to Be Hosted in Ulaanbaatar
August 20 (infomongolia.com) In the scope of the state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Xi Jinping to Mongolia, the Peace and Friendship Organization of Mongolia in association with Society to Develop Chinese Culture are organizing the “Great Tea Road” Cultural Days at Chinese Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar on August 21-25, 2014.
This event is also being organized as part of celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and during the “Great Tea Road” Cultural Days historical photo exhibition and Chinese tea culture ceremony will be presented.
According to historical records, since early times the tea plants used to deliver from China’s Hunan and Shanxi provinces through Zhangjiakou (Janchkhuu) and Erenhot (Erlian or Ereen) cities via Mongolia’s Zamyn-Uud, Niislel Khuree (proclaimed as the capital city of Mongolia in 1912) and Altanbulag to Russia’s Kyakhta (Khiagt) town and to the furthest destinations of Russia and Europe.
Since 1689, the tradition of transporting tea and other goods from China to Russia via Mongolian territory had been restored and enriched in a modern way, and named as the Great Tea Road (Tumen Gazryn Tsainy Zam in Mongolian language).
Nowadays, Mongolia, China and Russia are jointly collaborating to register the “Great Tea Road” into the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO.
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Good Opportunity for Starters to Learn from CEOs
August 20 (Mongolian Economy) The Business Solutions Exhibition and Forum will be held this Thursday and Friday at Misheel Expo. The theme of this event is “From Business to Business,” and companies will display their products and services to participating members. These products and services include equipment, technology, office solutions, information technology, media, consulting services and human development. New business innovations and solutions will also be presented. 
The Ministry of Labor will play a huge role during the exhibition. The ministry will introduce policies, projects and programmes in addition to providing financial support. This two day event is highly important as CEOs and high-level managers will attend to present their business ideas and stories. This also provides a good opportunity for starting businesses to learn the ropes of the playing field. The programme of the exhibition and forum can be found at www.businesssolution.mn 

Ulaanbaatar and Irkutsk to Cooperate on Winter Tourism
August 20 (Mongolian Economy) Ulaanbaatar will cooperate with the Russian city of Irkutsk. The Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, E. Bat-Uul, met with the Deputy Mayor of Irkutsk to discuss potential areas to cooperate on with the development of new projects.
The Deputy Mayor highlighted areas of which both cities can work together on, especially winter tourism. E. Bat-Uul offered two other main areas of interest: The restoration and maintenance of old buildings and the establishment of programmes and measures against air pollution. After the meeting, a more detailed plan will be created in order to pursue these cooperative strategies. 

Wrestlers of Mongolian National Team for 2014 FILA Wrestling World Championships Announced
August 20 (infomongolia.com) The 2014 FILA Wrestling World Championships in the Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling, Men's Freestyle Wrestling and Women's Freestyle Wrestling tournaments will be taking place at “Gymnastics Palace” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on September 08-14, 2014.
At this World Championships Mongolia will be competing in the Men’s and Women's Freestyle Wrestling tournaments and Mongolian Wrestling Federation (MWF) released a list of participants as follows.
Men’s Team
Headed by Senior Vice President of MWF, MP Dolgorsuren SUMIYABAZAR and Senior Coach of Mongolian National Team Tserenbaatar TSOGTBAYAR.
57 kg IMS Batbold NOMIN, first time to compete in the Wrestling World Championships
61 kg IMS Enkhsaikhan NYAM-OCHIR, third time
65 kg Merit Athlete Ganzorig MANDAKHNARAN, fourth time
70 kg IMS Batchuluun ANKHBAYAR, second time
74 kg IMS Purevjav UNURBAT, third time
86 kg IMS Orgodol UITUMEN, second time
96 kg IMS Dorjkhand KHUDERBULGA, second time
125 kg IMS Jargalsaikhan CHULUUNBAT, fifth time
Women’s Team
Headed by Vice President of MWF, President of “Altai Construction” LLC, Khadbaasan BAT-ERDENE and supervised by Senior Coach of Mongolian National Team Buyandelger BATBAYAR.
48 kg IMS Erdenesukh NARANGEREL, second time
51 kg IMS Erdenechimeg SUMIYA, second time
55 kg IMS Altantsetseg BATTSETSEG, first time
58 kg Merit Athlete Tungalag MUNKHTUYA, third time
60 kg IMS Sukhee TSERENCHIMED, first time
63 kg Merit Athlete Soronzonbold BATTSETSEG, fourth time
69 kg IMS Badrakh ODONCHIMEG, seventh time
75 kg Merit Athlete Ochirbat BURMAA, seventh time
Mongolian National Team has been participating in the FILA Wrestling World Championships for the 38th time since 1963, whereas women freestyle wrestlers competing for the consecutive 13th year since 2001.
To date, Mongolian freestyle wrestlers have grabbed a total of 3 Gold, 12 Silver and 15 Bronze medals in the Men’s category, and 1 Gold, 5 Silver and 9 Bronze medals in the Women’s wrestling. On all-time medal table, Mongolia stands at the 31st place with total of 45 medals (4 Gold, 17 Silver and 24 Bronze). The first Gold medal in the Men’s freestyle wrestling was brought by Z.Oidov in 1974 and in the Women’s wrestling by S.Battsetseg in 2010.

China and Mongolia Customs General Administrations Establish Memorandums of Understanding on Cooperation
August 20 (infomongolia.com) At the invitation of the Chairman of Customs General Administration of Mongolia Osor GANBAT, Chinese delegation led by Minister of the General Administration of China Customs (GACC) Commissioner-General Yu Guangzhou has been conducting an official visit to Mongolia on August 19-22, 2014.
During their visit, GACC delegates held bilateral talks with Mongolian counterparts and parties established intergovernmental agreement of cooperation on border port issues. Moreover, the two sides established two Memorandums of Understanding on Cooperation between the General Administration of China Customs and Customs General Administration of Mongolia, and between the Customs Office of Manzhouli, China and Customs Office of Dornod Aimag, Mongolia.

Security ramped up for Chinese President’s visit
By B. Khash-Erdene
August 20 (UB Post) Mongolian security officials began ramping up security across Ulaanbaatar on Monday with the impending visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Chinese President was due to discuss bilateral matters on Thursday. However the UB Post could not confirm rumors prior to deadline that the Chinese President’s visit is set to begin a day earlier than both Mongolian and Chinese officials had announced.
However, major multi-use venues Blue Sky and Monnis Towers confirmed that they were advised by police not to open windows facing the State Palace on August 20 and 21.
Sources in the Chingeltei District Police Department confirmed that security has been heightened since Monday. He noted that during high level official visits, the police typically heighten security on the day of the visit, and that the police are taking on more work during this particular visit.
Mongolia and China enjoy an officially diplomatic if complicated historical relationship, further complicated by anti-Chinese sentiment common in some sectors of Mongolia society and politics.
With increased trade, boosted after the free market and democratic revolution of 1989, Mongolia’s dependence on China for consumer goods jumped radically, which some see as cause for concern for Mongolian national security and independence. China’s state-sponsored People’s Daily describes the relationship between the two countries as one of   “constant progress” since the revised signing of the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation in 1994.
President Ts.Elbegdorj has been particularly keen on reshaping the image of Mongolia’s southern neighbor to the public, for which he has received both criticism and praise. Bilateral relations have improved as the nations increased high level dialogues in recent months.
President Ts.Elbegdorj visited China in May for a regional security summit, which was followed by visits from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in June, and Vice-President Li Yuanchao in April.
The last visit of a Chinese president to Mongolia occurred eleven years ago in 2003, with the visit of then President Hu Jintao.
During the visit, officials are expected to draw up a series of energy and infrastructure deals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The deals will cover the construction of two coal-to-gas plants that will supply up to 95 percent of its output to China. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao told the South China Morning Post that the two countries would also sign deals on coal mining and infrastructure.
The UB Post will provide coverage of President Xi Jinping’s visit in our next edition.

Mongolian President gives opening speech at Forum of Northeast Asian Mayors
By Ch. Khaliun
August 20 (UB Post) On Monday, Mongolian President Ts.Elbegdorj gave a speech at the Northeast Asian Mayor’s Forum (NAMF) held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives from Mongolia, Russia, China, Japan, Korea and North Korea were in attendance.
Ts.Elbegdorj’s shared highlights from the president’s address:
Hello everyone. Organizing the NAMF in UB is a very important event. I’m expressing my gratitude to all mayors who’ve arrived and wish good luck to the forum.  There is belief that mayors define a city’s development. Therefore, mayors are leaders who have the maximum support of citizens. Even though we are facing difficulties, our cities are developing. We will detail those issues during NAMF.
Mongolia is facing some difficulties too. The most important thing is developing the city around people. The city is an important structure for serving people with their needs. Making plans and policy by thinking of citizens can lead us to the right solutions.
I see five opportunities for solving city problems. First, if we can provide proper organization of city services based on modern technological achievements, city management won’t be that difficult.
Second, we can say that city management is resident management. We have SUKH (management offices) at apartments. Households in the ger district are uniting by organizing street by street. The mayor is the head of those residents and SUKH. On the one hand, we should see the rising matters of the city as a test; on the other hand, as an opportunity. Government, the whole country and residents should see the problems facing city re-planning, transport, security and services as a chance for development. Solving city problems can be a resource for drawing investments and pushing growth. Seeing the problems as an opportunity and cooperating with the government is a chance for new solutions.
Third, we allocate budgets for resident concerns. They get together and discuss what they will do with the budget, then it’s implemented under citizen control. Resident concerns and their control are very important. When people are financially able, they try to improve their surroundings, so giving opportunities and initiatives to these people will help to solve problems.
Fourth, the crucial thing in a city’s development is the independence of the city manager. Being dependent on the residents is the right thing. Also, financial independence is important, letting certain taxes from the government go towards city development is the right decision. We are taking some steps on creating personal income tax or estate taxes for these matters.
Fifth, I think the big cities should be centers of towns. For Mongolia, it’s important to make new settlements due to the available areas for development, and to organize land and land ownership.  In order to solve the old city’s matters, building a new city can be seen as an advantage. However we have to solve the old city’s problems as well.
There is no one who knows more about facing the problems of cities than you. So by discussing these issues, we can help each other and make decisions with perspective. I think, if there are good ideas and solution, finance is always possible. NAMF is held ahead of an important event. We are preparing for the state visit of China’s President Xi Jinping and China is an important country in Northeast Asia. We are also discussing Russian President V.Putin’s visit.
Surely, there will be discussion on support from state administrators on initiatives from the forum. I hope we will have the opportunity to share views. Everything is done through mutual support and understanding. I believe that the activities and meetings of the city administrators will be held frequently.
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