Aug 16, 2024 59 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for August 16, 2024

The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Mongolia Strategy Center or its members.

Today's Stories

Politics

TODAY: Opening of the Special Session of Parliament

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Overview of some events happening on Thursday, August 15th:

09:00: At the "Ulaanbaatar" hotel: A discussion will be held involving the state, NGOs, international organizations, representatives of secondary schools, kindergartens, and parents regarding improvements in school and kindergarten nutrition. Contact: 8975-5575.

10:00: At the State Palace: The opening of the special session of Parliament will take place.

11:30: At the Ministry of Education: The Minister of Education, P. Naranbayar, will provide information related to preparations for the new academic year. Contact: 8975-5575.

12:00-15.00: Parliament's standing committees will hold meetings.

At the library of the National University of Mongolia: An international academic conference on "Environmental Disaster Risk in the Asian Region" is being held. Today, the conference will continue with round table discussions.
The 10th Conference of the Asian Concrete Federation will be held in Mongolia for the first time. The first day's activities will take place at the University of Science and Technology from 10:00 to 17:00, with a plenary session at the "Tuushin" hotel on August 16th at 08:30. Contact: 9980-8160, 8811-8753.

The Special Session of the State Great Khural Will Discuss the 2024 Budget Revision and Government’s Action Plan

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: bloombergtv.mn

The special session of the State Great Khural has opened.

During this special session, the 2024 Budget revision, accompanying laws submitted by the government, and the Government's 2024-2028 Action Plan will be discussed.

The revision of the 2024 budget aims at resolving the necessary financing to immediately initiate the mega projects included in the Action Plan of the coalition government, as clarified by the government.

During the session of permanent committees, members questioned the government about whether taxes would decrease over the next four years and what changes might occur. In response, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia stated that the policy would focus on reduction and comprehensive reform, not enhancement.

At the opening of the special session, Chairman of the State Great Khural D. Amarbaysgalan stated, "The Ninth Parliament will direct its efforts towards eliminating overlapping legislations, eradicating human rights violations, and promptly implementing legal regulations supporting development."

Currently, social relations are regulated by the 1992 Constitution, with 880 laws and regulations in force in alignment. Despite this, 437 of these laws regulate daily interactions on a regular basis, while 443 laws operate on a one-time basis.

A joint government program will be discussed at the extraordinary session

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

After the opening of the extraordinary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament), the majority of members supported the urgent discussion of the draft laws submitted by the government.

As a result, the draft resolution of the State Great Khural on "Approval of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program," the proposal to amend the Law on the framework statement of the 2024 national budget and the projected budget for 2025-2026, the proposal to amend the Law on the 2024 National Budget, and the draft law on the 2024 budget of the National Wealth Fund have been referred to the relevant standing committee for urgent discussion.

EVENT: A Special Session of the State Great Hural Will Be Held

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At 10:00 am, a special session of the State Great Hural will be held.

From 12:00-3:00 pm, standing committees will meet.

Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) should ensure to cite the source (ikon.mn) when fully or partially using our information in any form.

The President's Brother, U.Otgonbayar, Is Released from the Education, Culture, Science, and Sports Standing Committee

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The President's brother, U.Otgonbayar, has been released from the Education, Culture, Science, and Sports Standing Committee.

During the extraordinary meeting of the State Great Khural, the draft resolution on "Amending the composition of certain standing committees" was approved with the majority support of the members.

As a result, members of the Parliament, B.Battsetseg and U.Otgonbayar, were relieved from the Education, Culture, Science, and Sports Standing Committee; S.Lundeg from the Ethics and Procedural Standing Committee; B.Zayabal and B.Uyanga from the Innovation and Digital Policy Standing Committee; and B.Javkhlan from the Economic Standing Committee.

The members released from the standing committees were reassigned as follows:

As members of the Industrial Policy Standing Committee, D.Jargalsaikhan, S.Lundeg, and B.Uyanga were appointed.
As a member of the Ethics and Procedural Standing Committee, B.Javkhlan was appointed.
As a member of the Social Policy Standing Committee, B.Bat-Erdene was appointed.
As members of the Budget Standing Committee, B.Battsetseg and J.Ganbaatar were appointed.
As members of the Legal Standing Committee, U.Otgonbayar and B.Zayabal were appointed.
As a member of the Economic Standing Committee, Kh.Gankhuyag was appointed.

After passing the resolution to change the standing committee members, the State Great Khural convened in a closed session to listen to the information from the National Security Council.

The new parliament with 126 members will adhere to the following main directions in its legislative activities

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The new parliament with 126 members, established by the 2024 general election of the State Great Khural, faces a demanding and broad-ranging task to enhance the legal environment in accordance with contemporary needs and requirements.

The current social relations in Mongolia are governed by principles and ideas declared by the 1992 Constitution and laws that are aligned with those principles. Presently, there are 880 laws in effect that have been enacted by the State Great Khural.

Among these laws, 437 are regularly followed and regulate daily social interactions. The remaining 443 are one-time laws.

Furthermore, eight laws enacted before the 1992 new Constitution are still in effect.

For instance, laws such as the "Law on Awarding Mothers who have Given Birth and Raised Many Children, and Expanding State Pensions" passed in 1957, and the "Law on the Rights of Trade Unions of the People's Republic of Mongolia" passed in 1991, can be mentioned.

Additionally, social relations are regulated by 2,768 administrative normative acts registered for general observance.

From the above, it turns out that 32% of the legislation comprises laws, while 68% are administrative normative acts. This situation has resulted in social relations better regulated by law being regulated by administrative provisions, thus granting public officials and state organizations the authority to establish norms for general observance.

Specifically, regulating the relations by provisions that should be regulated by law has serious implications that infringe on human rights.

An analysis of the 318 laws currently in force has identified over 800 items and provisions that violate human rights.

This legal environment defect consequently becomes the basis for arbitrary fulfillment and limits human rights, thereby undermining the rule of law.

Therefore, this new parliament of 126 members will adhere to the following main directions in its legislative activities. These include:

1) Establishing a legal system based on a human-centered approach and respecting human rights; 2) Making legislation precise and understandable, ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone; 3) Prompt formulation of legal regulations in response to the rapid social development needs.

First: Establishing a legal system based on a human-centered approach and respecting human rights:

When carrying out the reform based on the "human-centered legal system" approach, the principle is to ensure that laws and legislation align with the interests and needs of citizens and society.

This entails shifting from the current state or organization-centered approach and legislative drafting techniques towards a human-centered approach, applicable to both existing and future legislation.

The process for legal environment reform highlights the issues raised in our international human rights treaties, conventions, and relevant domestic laws, covering both issues such as children's rights, rights of persons with disabilities, women’s rights, and specific human rights concerns such as freedom of expression, belief, property, and right to work.

For example, an analysis of 318 laws currently in force shows that there are over 800 items and provisions violating human rights.

Our parliament will focus on addressing and correcting these legal violations.

Our parliament believes it is necessary to study certain issues and either promulgate new laws or amend existing laws aimed at enhancing the legal environment for protecting human rights.

In this legal framework reform, the consistent implementation of our Constitutional principles of upholding the rule of law will involve:

Reforming the law on press freedom,
Enhancing the legal framework against discrimination,
Ensuring citizen participation in the law-making process,
Protecting the rights of witnesses-victims, children's rights, and rights of people with disabilities,
Forming a legal system ensuring proper safety in food and pharmaceuticals.

At the same time, it is essential to evaluate whether the current political and legal systems serve as an adequate basis for strengthening consensus-based political culture and representative democracy.

The law-making of our parliament will ensure alignment with the public interest, develop mechanisms for effective implementation, and achieve a high standard of ethics and effective regulation of social relations.

Second: Making legislation precise and understandable, ensuring equal application to everyone:

As previously mentioned, our parliament will focus on addressing the deviation whereby many interactions that should be regulated by law are instead subject to administrative provisions, thus undermining the rule of law.

Because these guidelines, established by officials and state bodies, set standards surpassing the law, violating human rights while creating bureaucracy, corruption, and uncertainty.

There is a need to review the following currently enforceable laws and develop new legislation on several issues.

Therefore, the aim is to regulate social relations primarily through law rather than provisions, presenting legislative proposals alongside draft provisions to enhance legal clarity. For example, 95% of social relations in European Union countries are governed by law, with 5% regulated by administrative provisions or directives. This indicates that the rule of law is the proven method of governance today.

Third: Prompt formulation of legal regulations in response to the rapid social development needs:

Experience worldwide demonstrates that a legal environment supporting fair competition and transparency, upholding the law, is a fundamental pathway to progress. Accordingly, the legislation in force and newly enacted laws must meet the temporal and societal demands.

Viewed from this perspective, there are several laws in our country that inadequately regulate certain social relations. This inadequacy accumulates many unregulated issues, creates uncertainty in intersectoral interactions, and presents substantial obstacles to the introduction of scientific-technological advancements and innovations.

Consequently, it is deemed necessary to review the implementation of the following laws and develop new legislation on several issues.

For instance:

Insufficient legal environment for improving the business climate, supporting fair competition, and limiting monopolies;
Inadequate and interim regulation for coins and cryptocurrencies, with informal losses reaching tens of billions;
Electronic cigarettes;
The "Trade Relations" between enterprises regulated by certain clauses in the 2002 Civil Code do not meet current requirements;
Inadequate regulation on consumer rights issues;
Digitalization of judicial proceedings;
New legal environment needed to regulate the relationship of management and use of state property.

These are just some of the issues facing our parliament in improving the legal environment of our country.

The demand and expectation to address many more issues lie before us.

Therefore, as members of the new parliament, we must be the genuine representatives of our citizens, characterized by high ethical standards, greater creativity, transparency, and speed in pursuit of our fundamental goal of accelerating national development.

Confidently, I express my belief that you will honor the esteemed name of a member of the State Great Khural, contributing, and setting an example in your noble endeavor towards realizing the "Human-centered, respecting human rights" approach, "Clear, understandable, equally applicable law," and "Legal environment in line with the requirements of rapid social development" for our Mongolia.

I wish you success in your work.

President U.Khurelsukh Will Listen to the Information of the National Security Council

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The extraordinary session of the State Great Khural started today. Three issues are being discussed in the session today. These are:

The draft resolution of the State Great Khural "On the approval of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 action program"
Discussing the draft resolution of the State Great Khural on making changes to the composition of some standing committees
Listening to the information of the National Security Council of Mongolia.

Currently, the information from the National Security Council is being listened to. President U.Khurelsukh is participating in this hearing.

Economy

Russia Extends Fuel Export Ban to Non-Treaty Countries Until End of Year

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Since March of this year, Russia announced that due to the need to stabilize its domestic market, it would halt the export of fuel to other countries for a period of six months.

This embargo did not apply to the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Furthermore, some countries, such as Mongolia and Uzbekistan, which have direct government agreements for fuel supply, were not affected by this embargo.

Although the embargo was initially set to expire next month, the Russian government has decided to extend it until the end of 2024.

Source: Reuters

MNT Deposits Exceed 2023 Figures by 5.6 Trillion MNT

Published: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 | Translated from: montsame.mn

By the end of July 2024, MNT deposits reached 20.1 trillion MNT. This is an increase of 431.9 billion MNT from June. Compared to 2023, it has increased by 5.6 trillion MNT.

Regarding MNT deposits:

17.3 trillion MNT (86.1%) belongs to individuals,
2.8 trillion MNT (13.9%) is owned by business entities and organizations.

Foreign currency deposits amounted to 4.5 trillion MNT, an increase of 64.8 billion MNT since June. However, it decreased by 392.9 billion MNT compared to 2023.

The total outstanding loans issued to businesses, organizations, and individuals reached 33.5 trillion MNT by the end of July this year. This is a decrease of 19.0 billion MNT from June but an increase of 8.1 trillion MNT compared to 2023.

In terms of outstanding loan debt:

59.6% belongs to individuals,
38.9% to private organizations,
0.6% to state institutions,
0.9% to financial institutions and others.

The outstanding balance of regular loans was 30.2 trillion MNT at the end of July this year, down by 85.7 billion MNT from June. It increased by 8.4 trillion MNT compared to 2023. Regular loan shares make up 90.3% of the total outstanding loans.

The outstanding balance of loans requiring close attention was 1.3 trillion MNT at the end of July this year, having increased by 57.9 billion MNT since June but decreased by 78.6 billion MNT compared to 2023. Such loans account for 3.9% of the total outstanding loans.

The outstanding balance of non-performing loans reached 2.0 trillion MNT at the end of July 2024. It increased by 8.9 billion MNT since June but decreased by 259.0 billion MNT compared to 2023, accounting for 5.9% of the total outstanding loans.

Infrastructure

In Cooperation with China, an International School of Science and Technology Engineering Will be Built in Khushig Valley

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The information related to enhancing the skills of English teachers and building an international engineering school in Mongolia was presented by Minister of Education P. Naranbayar.

He stated, "Two significant events happened within the scope of international cooperation in the field of education.

During his visit to Mongolia, the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that a major English language proficiency center will be established and that they will work together to improve the quality of education in Mongolia.

In this context, research activities for establishing a major English language proficiency center under the National University of Mongolia (NUM) are ongoing. Additionally, many of our teachers will go abroad for training.

We are discussing the preparation of 2,000 English language teachers abroad. Concurrently, foreign professors with experience will come and teach at Mongolia's universities.

Moreover, in collaboration with China and under the University of Science and Technology (MUST), a project has been initiated to build an international school of science and technology engineering in Khushig Valley through a government memorandum. This project will continue forward.

It is being discussed to build a school that will prepare 2,000 engineers annually through non-refundable aid," he said.

R. Ganjur: The Power Will Fail Frequently This Coming Winter, Prepare Not Only Candles and Matches but Also Warm Coats

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

We talked with R. Ganjur, a consultant engineer in the energy sector of Mongolia and the head of the Mongolian Energy Engineers’ Association, about the pressing issues in the energy sector.

When we spoke with you on our website two years ago around this time, you warned that our energy sector was on the verge of failing. Has the situation improved today? If there is any failure in the energy sector this winter, does our country have any alternatives?

To be honest, the situation has not improved since two years ago. There are no reserves in the energy sector. Last winter, officials mentioned that “the first part of the Bureltuik Power Plant will be operational, so there is nothing to worry about for the upcoming winter.” The Bureltuik Power Plant has a capacity of 300 MW. The first phase, or one block, has a capacity of 150 MW, which is similar to that of TEC-III. If it becomes operational on schedule, as officials say, it would, of course, share the load. However, from a professional perspective, it seems that this plant will not become operational by the end of November. Last year, we overcame the winter peak load by restricting 71,000 kW of electricity. Specifically, we restricted electricity to 35,000 households in the evenings, barely managing to survive last winter. Restrictions were also applied during the day, not just in the evening. People expressed a lot of complaints. Meanwhile, electricity consumption has reportedly increased by four percent. This figure will rise more in winter. In my opinion, this year we will restrict at least 100,000 kW of capacity to get through the winter. During the peak load period in the winter, our country imports 300,000 kW of electricity from Russia. Last winter, the Russian side announced there would be interruptions and cuts to half of their supply, which caused a panic. If that happens again this winter, it will be over.

You mentioned that the first phase of the Bureltuik Power Plant will not be operational before this winter. The Governor of the city, Kh. Nyambaatar, declared that it will definitely be brought to operation. Why do you see that it will not be operational?

The project leader of the Bureltuik Power Plant (I do not remember his name) said in spring that it would be operational by the end of November. The first block of the Bureltuik Power Plant, which has a capacity of 150 MW, should be operational. According to hearsay, it will not be operational this winter. Therefore, this winter will be even tougher. It will be harsher than last year. Now the leadership of the Bureltuik Power Plant should tell the public whether or not they will be able to complete it within this year. Building such a large power plant encounters various obstacles. It is not as easy as expected. It should be informed that it will not become operational, so prepare candles and matches. This year our main hope in the energy sector was the Bureltuik Power Plant.

Generally, is it possible for Mongolia to meet its energy needs through domestic sources?

It is entirely possible to meet the needs through domestic sources. We have coal, water, solar, and wind energy. We simply need to build power plants. The existing power plants cannot meet domestic demand, which is why our country has entered a power shortage. We are currently importing over 20 percent of our electricity. It is essential to construct Power Plant V, the Eg River Power Plant, the Baganuur Power Plant, and the 450 MW Tavantolgoi Plant. One reason they are not getting built is due to political reasons.

Secondly, the influence of politicians’ personal interests is holding up progress. When someone tries to do something, another would block it. For instance, politicians led by M. Enkhsaikhan came up with a feasibility study to build the Tavantolgoi Power Plant, but when Z. Enkhbold was the speaker of parliament, he halted the construction. Energy Minister Khürelbaatar blocked the Eg River Power Plant twice. Because of these issues, there is a real risk and situation where we could sit in the dark and freeze this winter. From now on, people should prepare candles, matches, and warm coats for winter.

How much of the total consumption is covered by domestic production?

We used to cover 80 percent of our total consumption ourselves and imported 20 percent. According to 2023 data, the import has increased to 22 percent. It keeps increasing. I define this sector as in a crisis. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene said, “We will reform to restore the weakened energy sector.” This describes the energy sector very clearly. It is in a very difficult state. Last year, we barely got through the winter with significant restrictions imposed.

How much does our country's energy consumption increase annually?

Energy consumption used to increase by 6-8 percent annually. Generally, in recent years it was increasing rather rapidly. Last year, electricity increased by 4 percent and heating by 3 percent. If it continues like this, it can increase by 3 to 4 percent annually in the future.

Can increasing the prices of heating and electricity help the energy sector recover from losses?

Yes, it is possible. Increasing the price is good news. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene recently said during the Parliament session that he will boldly reform the energy sector, liberate the prices, and attract foreign investments. We are looking forward to his words. If the energy sector continues to operate at a loss, it will further deteriorate and eventually come to a stop. There is an unwritten global rule that a country's energy reserve capacity should be at 20 percent. However, we do not have this reserve. Instead of having a 20 percent reserve capacity, we are facing a 20 percent shortfall, which poses a real risk. The more we rely on foreign energy, the deeper the dependency becomes, posing a huge danger.

Let’s continue discussing price rates. It is a topic that causes much public distress. Could you explain once again the inevitable conditions for making changes?

Energy prices have been held unchanged for many years. When the price of bread increases, not much is said about it, but once we suggest increasing energy prices, the sector is blamed. When bread prices increase, producers profit more. But when energy prices increase, it’s not for profit; it’s just to cover the losses. If you look at what industries or services sell their products at a loss in Mongolia, it’s only electricity and energy. People need to understand that electricity prices must increase. I think people began to understand it well since Russia announced they would halve their imports. But even though people understand it, populist politicians resist and attack to appear favorable to the public. There is no choice but to increase the price. If we do not increase the prices, one day Ulaanbaatar city will freeze.

What is your opinion on battery stations? How supportive are they in handling peak energy demand?

Battery stations are very important. Last winter, a battery station with 200,000 kWh capacity was operational. There is only one battery station in Mongolia. Now, one is being built in Baganuur, as Kh. Nyambaatar mentioned. As winters threaten the city with freezing, the city is pursuing it actively. This is a very appropriate effort, and Kh. Nyambaatar deserves congratulations. The most crucial aspect of a battery station is its role in handling peak loads in the evening. In the evening, all households, entertainment venues, hotels, bars and restaurants, and many places turn on their lights and electricity, significantly increasing the load. The battery used during peak times in the evening is charged later when the load decreases at night. Also, if there is any sudden accident or interruption, you just press a button to activate the battery station.

There was talk of expanding TEC III. How is this progress?

Although there was talk of expanding the third power plant by 300,000 kW, unfortunately, the work has not started. The reason is that Russia reportedly offered a very high price. We do not necessarily have to rely on Russia. We only focus on Russia and China. There are international organizations and third-party neighbors. Just announce an international tender. That’s it.

Building the fifth power plant has also been discussed for many years. As someone from the sector, where do you see the construction of TEC V being stuck?

For the fifth power plant, an international tender was announced, and the major global energy companies were selected. A consortium of companies from France, Japan, and South Korea agreed to build it together. However, they were not allowed to build the fifth power plant. The consortium from France, Japan, and South Korea left in tears with multimillion-dollar losses, claiming there was no land to build it on, which was false. It was stalled by energy ministers M. Sonompil and Ts. Davaasuren. Today, because these ministers held up the construction of the fifth power plant, the entire nation is at risk of freezing. Discussing this makes me angry. I am not an official in the energy sector. As an independent expert and a consulting engineer of Mongolia, I voice my opinion. Few officials bother to listen or take advice.

Our country is said to have abundant renewable energy reserves. How do you see the development of renewable energy?

Renewable energy is the energy of the future. In 2008, the Parliament approved the Renewable Energy Program. It stated that by 2020, 20 percent and by 2030, 30 percent of energy would be generated from renewable sources. However, currently, we produce about nine percent of our total energy from renewables. There was a lot of public criticism when the cost of renewable energy was high. But now the price of renewables has decreased, and it is getting better.

In time, the price of renewables will be cheaper than coal power plants. The solar and wind energy plants of renewable energy will eventually come to our aid. The Ministry of Energy’s action program includes plans to develop new renewable energy plants.

Our country set a goal to become an energy-exporting nation. Is this achievable?

Completely achievable. We can export electricity by utilizing renewable energy. Experts from the Asian Development Bank conducted research on Mongolia's renewable energy, exploring the possibility of exporting electricity to Japan and South Korea. In 2019, the study concluded that it is technically possible and economically profitable. However, the challenge in implementing this is that our electricity needs to pass through China. This raises the issue of building a high-voltage transmission line. It must be addressed at the leadership level of both countries. There are indications that discussions are ongoing. Additionally, there was talk in 2009 of building a coal power plant with a capacity of 10,800 MW to export to China, but it did not materialize. It may be due to political conflicts among politicians.

People criticize the consolidation of parties. From a narrow perspective, there are benefits. This could help in the implementation of large-scale projects. They say there is no opposition, no democracy anymore. However, opposition is almost unnecessary for the implementation of large projects. It would be better if they unite and implement major projects.

Thank you for the interview.

The Dormitory of Khovd Aimag's School No. 1 was Privatized and Teachers Built Apartments

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

During a recent briefing, Minister of Education P. Naranbayar announced that the ministry would combat illegal activities involving the theft and misuse of lands belonging to educational institutions.

For example, the dormitory within the compound of Khovd Aimag's School No. 1 was privatized by 17 named teachers, and in 2019, the governor changed the land's designation to "residential housing" and constructed a building.

It has been reported that the dormitory of Khovd Aimag's School No. 1 was privatized and residential housing was built on the land. The minister emphasized, "The practice of stealing and pilfering public land and property to build personal residences and houses must end during our time."

The dormitory within the compound of Khovd Aimag's School No. 1 was privatized by 17 named teachers, who had the purpose of the land changed to "residential housing" by the governor in 2019, and constructed a building. We cannot accept such illegal actions and will put a stop to them. Such intrusions upon school compounds and land should not occur at the national, local, or state level. If they do, strict measures will be enforced."

"Ulaanbaatar Railway" Receives Five New Locomotives

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The addition of five new locomotives is expected to increase freight transport volume by an average of 2 million tons annually. As part of efforts to increase the capital of "Ulaanbaatar Railway", five new locomotives have been imported from Russia. This provides a tangible opportunity to enhance transportation and transit capacity.

Railways are a key transport backbone propelling global economic development. Thus, international railway development trends focus on safety, sustainable operations, technological renewal, and smart solutions.

For our landlocked country, it is crucial to further develop railway transport to enhance competitiveness, and there are several important issues that need to be addressed. Experts have long stated that one of the most critical changes required in the railway freight sector is to increase technological updates and maintenance.

As part of this initiative, a proposal was made to equally increase the capital reserves of the "Ulaanbaatar Railway" JSC, encouraging investment from both the Russian and Mongolian governments. Russia supported this initiative and today held the handover ceremony of five new locomotives from Russia to "Ulaanbaatar Railway" in the "Ulaanbaatar Traction Subdivision".

The ceremony was attended by Mongolian Minister of Road and Transport Development B.Delgersaikhan, First Deputy Head of "Ulaanbaatar Railway" O.A.Kazakov, and other relevant officials.

Minister of Road and Transport Development B.Delgersaikhan inaugurated the event and congratulated the "Hero of Labor" team on their 75th anniversary, expressing gratitude for participating in this historic event.

"The agreement between the governments of Russia and Mongolia to increase the capital of the 'Ulaanbaatar Railway' by 167.4 billion MNT, with each side contributing 83.7 billion MNT, was signed in 1949. As part of this agreement, five mainline '2TE25KM' series locomotives were handed over to 'Ulaanbaatar Railway'", he highlighted.

The "2TE25KM" series locomotives have been in service since 2017. These locomotives are recognized for their capacity to haul over 6000 tons and their high safety and reliability. Experts emphasized that these are improved models that have endured the tough climate conditions in our country with flying colors.

O.A.Kazakov, First Deputy Head of "Ulaanbaatar Railway", stated, "The '2TE25KM' series locomotives have consistently proven to be the most reliable and technically safe. They operate seamlessly in harsh weather conditions along mountainous and sandy terrains. We have implemented numerous upgrades to the locomotives as per the requests of specialists from 'Ulaanbaatar Railway'. For example, we have enhanced the air filters. We will continue to improve these aspects during their utilization."

He expressed confidence that these locomotives will have a positive impact on the Mongolian economy and extended his gratitude to the governments of Russia and Mongolia.

At the conclusion of the event, Minister of Road and Transport Development B.Delgersaikhan visited the "Ulaanbaatar" traction division's workers' residences, history museum, and work environment, and exchanged ideas with the leaders.

The Largest Integrated Platform in the Construction Sector Highlights the ACTIVE GARDEN Project as a Model Project

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Building.mn, the largest platform uniting the construction sector, which defines the appearance and image of the country, has highlighted the ACTIVE GARDEN project, setting a benchmark in a new residential area.

An event was held to exchange practical experience and sign a memorandum of understanding for future cooperation with the ACTIVE GARDEN project, which introduces international standards to the construction sector. Among the participants of this event were G.Batsukh, chairman of the Board of Directors of Barilga.mn, advising engineer Ts.Ganbat of Mongolia, and executive director S.Zoljargal of the Active Garden project.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Barilga.mn G.Batsukh stated that it is commendable that, in an era when the construction sector in Mongolia is rapidly developing and marching in line with global standards, a competition has emerged that meets the desires and demands of consumers. Research shows that the population concentration in the capital city Ulaanbaatar increases yearly, with 47.8% or nearly half of the population residing there. Therefore, there is an inevitable need for the continuous development of the construction sector, making proper and organized planning to improve the quality of life.

Due to the increasing population concentration, the expansion of Ulaanbaatar city and the development of the NEW RESIDENTIAL area or the Yarmag and Nisekh direction with effective policies have become essential. Projects in this area each stand out with their own unique features. The sales of residential apartments in Khan-Uul district showed relatively high figures, with primary market sales reaching 203 and secondary market sales reaching 1,793 in the first half of 2024. The main indicator attracting customer interest in the new residential area is the creation of comprehensive planning that provides quality living opportunities. Active Garden Residence stands out with its unique aspect as a leading model project in this area.

Advising engineer Ts.Ganbat of Mongolia remarked that the construction sector worldwide is walking in step with technology and is developing at the speed of light. The construction sector is often the first to integrate scientific and technological advancements, aiming to continuously better the present compared to the past. The same goes for construction, where the potential for improvement is always sought. Quality in the construction sector is primarily measured by fulfilling consumer needs and being up to standard. The ACTIVE GARDEN project meets the criteria of this new residential area's consumer needs and requirements. We call this well-planned and exemplary development the closest to international standards. Services, schools, playgrounds, and green spaces make user-centered planning that defines the building requirements.

According to global standards, quality buildings are judged by continuous oversight throughout all possible timelines and at every point. Another significant advancement implemented by the ACTIVE GARDEN project is monitoring. ACTIVE GARDEN conducts additional monitoring with external supervisory organizations apart from their control engineers. This is a significant step towards quality execution.

Executive Director S.Zoljargal of the Active Garden project noted that the Active Garden project team endeavors to add color to development and progress by opening a new page in the construction sector with our Mongolian engineers. We are making tangible steps in defining modern construction orientations rather than following them. In today's era, when society shifts towards a settled living in urban areas, creating the possibility to uniformly integrate natural energy, like sunlight, air, and wind into everyday life, has been our goal.

Therefore, besides utilizing trapezoidal architectural solutions, we have planned to create slanted constructions, designating 70% of the building's total area as green space. Our primary objective lies in ensuring the comfort of every family member living in Active Garden. Planning an international curriculum public school for children in the new residential area has become a socially accountable project for the future generations of Mongolia. Without the need to venture far, we establish the opportunity to obtain a world-class education in the new residential area, marking another unique aspect.

Globally, the concept of a building goes beyond mere luxury, ranking by its eco-friendly smart solutions. The Active Garden project introduces energy-efficient usage friendly to the planet, enriches the surrounding environment with green spaces, and establishes comprehensive planning addressing diverse human needs, setting a new standard in the new residential area.

Storm Drain System Near Eredentolgoi to be Newly Built Using the Mayor's Reserve Fund

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Near the 24th khoroo of the Bayanzurkh district and the vicinity of the 065th military unit, three new water sources have emerged.

As a result, water has accumulated along the intersection of Sharkhad or Erdenetolgoi street up to the Gazarchin Institute, causing damage to the road. To address this issue, the Governor of the capital and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, H. Nyambaatar, along with relevant officials, visited the site.

A tender has been announced for the repair and renovation of the mentioned road, and the contractor will be selected on August 30. Therefore, the Department of Geodesy and Water Structures needs to promptly carry out water drainage tasks using the Mayor's reserve fund before the road repair work begins. Additionally, the design for the engineering network system from Auto Plaza to Khangai Khotkhon needs to be integrated with this task, as directed by Mayor H. Nyambaatar.

Regarding this, Director of the Department of Geodesy and Water Structures B. Byambasaihan stated, "Springs have appeared in four locations within the 10th and 24th khoroos of Bayanzurkh district, Amgalan, Sharkhad, and Erdenetolgoi. If groundwater issues are not addressed, constructing new roads will risk new water sources forming elsewhere. Initially, no drainage system was installed in these locations.

Thus, without a comprehensive solution for the engineering network, any effort will be futile. Initially, wells must be created to capture groundwater for pedestrians to travel unimpeded, and these should connect to the nearest groundwater lines."

Additionally, 61 road repair and renewal projects are being carried out across the capital city in phases. Officials emphasized the integration with drainage systems in these projects.

Warning

Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are reminded to credit the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form.

The Stormwater Drain System in the Erdenetolgoy Area Will Be Newly Built Using the Governor's Reserve Funds

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In the 24th committee of Bayanzurkh District, a new water source has formed in three locations near the 065th military unit. Consequently, water has accumulated along the road from the Sharhad or Erdenetolgoy street intersection to the Gazarchin Institute, causing damage to the road. In order to address this issue, the Mayor of the capital and the Governor of Ulaanbaatar City, Kh. Nyambaatar, worked with relevant officials to inspect the area.

A tender for the repair and renewal of the above road has been announced, and the contractor will be selected on August 30. Therefore, it is essential for the Capital City Geo-Engineering and Water Infrastructure Authority to use the governor's reserve funds to promptly carry out the drainage work before commencing road repairs.

Furthermore, the city mayor, Kh. Nyambaatar, instructed the development of plans for the road engineering network system from Auto Plaza to Khangai Apartments to coordinate with the current work.

B. Byambasaihan, head of the Capital City Geo-Engineering and Water Infrastructure Authority, stated regarding this issue, "Springs have emerged in four locations within the 10th and 24th committees of Bayanzurkh District, including Amgalan, Sharhad, and Erdenetolgoy areas. If the ground water problem is not resolved, newly excavated roads might face risks from rising water elsewhere.

These areas initially lacked stormwater drainage systems. Without a comprehensive engineering network solution, efforts may be futile. Therefore, to facilitate undisturbed public travel on roads, we will first construct catchment wells to collect the groundwater and connect it to the nearest stormwater drain."

In addition, they noted that 61 road repair and renewal projects are being conducted in the capital city in a phased manner, being implemented with stormwater drain networks.

Source: Governor's Office of the Capital City, Public Relations and Communications Department

L. Khosbayar: The Dispute Over the Kindergarten Site Being Built Near the Bogd-Ar Complex Will Be Resolved

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Deputy Mayor of the Capital City in charge of social sector, green development, and issues of air and environmental pollution, L. Khosbayar, met with the leaders of the educational institutions of Bayangol District.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on improving the quality of education, increasing equitable accessibility, enhancing the social welfare of teachers and staff working in educational institutions, and improving interdepartmental coordination.

In Bayangol District, a total of 52 schools and 79 kindergartens are in operation, and the issues of districts without schools and kindergartens have been resolved. In this context, the construction of a kindergarten in the 22nd district has begun with district investment.

During the meeting, Deputy Mayor L. Khosbayar stated, "An 8000 square meter site near Altai housing complex has been allocated for building a school. Currently, there is one stalled project in the district. Specifically, there is a land dispute over the kindergarten being built near the Bogd-Ar complex. However, the construction work is continuing, and efforts are underway to resolve the land dispute concerning the kindergarten."

A Flood Protection Embankment is Being Built on the Demolished Site of S'Outlets Store

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A flood protection embankment is being built on the demolished site of the S'Outlets store, with the flow of water temporarily halted at the Selbe River's headwaters.

Due to this, the river's water level has decreased. We sought clarification from M. Baldandorj, Head of the Urban Engineering Structures Department of UBZAA.

He stated: "To construct a flood protection embankment on the demolished site of the S'Outlets store, which involved altering the Selbe River's course, we have temporarily blocked the flow of water from the reservoir constructed at the river's head.

Today, the main embankment's concrete work has commenced. Once this embankment is completed, water will be regulated and released, allowing the river to flow in its usual course. However, since it's autumn, the water level will decrease to a certain extent," he said.

Additionally, as part of efforts to improve the flow of the Selbe and Dund Streams, they are preparing calculations and feasibility studies for flood protection structures from the Arslantai Bridge to the Nature Bridge and from the railway crossing in front of the Nature Bridge to the Altai Residence bridge. This is to be included in subsequent investment projects.

Bus Stops Relocated

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Changes have been made to the location of the bus stops in front of the 10 public transport bus stations and behind the "Enkhjin" shopping center.

In the 20th district of Songinokhairkhan area, the bus stops in front of the 10 public transport stations and in front of the Enkhjin shopping center have been relocated 350 meters west to newly constructed bus stops. The Public Transport Policy Agency informs citizens to use the newly constructed stops.

Society

D. Amarbayasgalan: We will abolish regulations that exceed the law and create a legal environment that respects human rights

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

An extraordinary session of the State Great Khural opened today. Speaker of the State Great Khural D. Amarbayasgalan delivered a speech to open the session.

Speaker D. Amarbayasgalan: The social relations of today’s Mongolia are governed by principles, ideology enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, and the legislation aligned with it. As of today, 880 laws adopted by the State Great Khural are in force. Out of these, 437 laws regulate social daily relations and are followed regularly. Meanwhile, the remaining 443 laws are of a one-time nature. Additionally, eight laws adopted before 1992 are still in effect. For instance, the law enacted in 1957 to award mothers who gave birth to and raised many children with medals, and the 1991 Trade Unions Law of the People's Republic of Mongolia can be mentioned. Moreover, social relations are governed by 2768 acts of administrative normative acts followed by everyone. From the above, it can be seen that 32 percent of the legislation consists of laws and 68 percent are administrative normative acts. This indicates that relations that could be regulated by law are being managed by regulations, granting officials and state agencies mandatory norms to follow by law. Specifically, regulating the necessary relations by regulations instead of laws has led to serious consequences infringing on human rights. Furthermore, the above-mentioned legal defect has become a basis for arbitrary implementation of laws, restricting human rights, and undermining the rule of law principle. Therefore, the new parliament with 126 members will adhere to the following directions in its legislative activities.

These include:

Establishing a legal system that is human-centered and based on the concept of respecting human rights.
Making legislation clear and understandable, and ensuring laws are applied equally to everyone.
Aligning legal regulations with the requirements of rapid social development without delay.

Currently, a review of 318 laws being implemented showed that there are more than 800 provisions violating human rights. This parliament will focus its power and attention on correcting such legal violations.

Our parliament considers it necessary to study the following issues to improve the legal environment for protecting human rights, enact new laws, or amend certain existing laws.

In undertaking legal reforms, we will steadfastly adhere to the primary conception of our Constitution, which is rule of law:

Revise the Law on Freedom of the Press,

enhance legal regulations against discrimination,

ensure citizen participation in the legislative process,

protecting the rights of witnesses-victims, children, and persons with disabilities,

establish a sound and effective legal system to ensure food and drug safety.

Simultaneously, we must review whether the current political and legal systems are a sufficient foundation for strengthening the political culture of consensus and representative democracy.

The new legislations our parliament enacts will be decisive in reflecting public interest, providing mechanisms for implementation, and being effective in regulating social relations, all while upholding high moral standards.

Secondly, the direction of making laws clear and understandable, and ensuring they apply equally to everyone is:

As previously mentioned, our parliament will specially focus on correcting the deviation of regulating relations by administrative acts where legislation should prevail.

This is because these regulations issued by officials and state institutions in excess of the law are not only violating human rights but also generating bureaucracy, corruption, and ambiguity.

Therefore, we aim to regulate social relationships by law rather than by regulation as much as possible, requiring draft regulations to be introduced alongside draft laws to make the legal environment clearer. For example, in the European Union countries, 95 percent of social relations are governed by laws, and five percent by administrative regulations or procedures, demonstrating that the rule of law is indeed a proven method of modern governance in these countries.

Thirdly, the direction of operating legal regulations in a timely manner in line with rapid social development is:

Global experience shows that a legal environment ensuring fair competition, conditions of transparency, and adherence to the law is the fundamental way to achieve progress and development. Therefore, the legislation being enforced and newly enacted should be responsive to contemporary and social demands.

From this perspective, there are several laws in our country that are insufficiently regulating certain social relationships effectively. Consequently, non-regulated issues are accumulating, creating uncertainty in inter-sectoral relations, and becoming major hindrances for the introduction of scientific-technological advancements and innovations.

In connection with this, it is deemed necessary to review the following existing laws and also to develop new laws on several issues:

There is an insufficient legal environment for improving the business climate, supporting fair competition, and limiting monopolies;
The absence of legal regulation for coins and cryptocurrencies has led to unofficial damages reaching tens of billions due to temporary regulations;
Electronic cigarettes;
The provisions of the Civil Code of 2002 regulating inter-business "Trade Relations" no longer meet today’s requirements;
Legislation regulating consumer rights needs improvements;
The digitization of judicial operations;
There is a need for a new legal framework to regulate the utilization and oversight of state property.

These are only some of the issues facing our parliament in improving the legal environment of our country. We have many more issues awaiting resolution that go beyond this.

Therefore, as new parliament members, more than just holding power, we must genuinely represent our citizens, working with high ethics, more creatively, transparently, and swiftly for the basic goal of accelerating our nation's development.

I am fully confident that you, esteemed members of the State Great Khural, will contribute and set an example in realizing the Three Excellence of Mongolia's legal environment: "Respect for human rights, human-centered ideology," "Clearly defined, understandable, and equally applicable laws," and "Responsive to the needs of rapid social development."

Transferred from China: The Individual Who Escaped Abroad While Under Investigation for Fraud and Causing Large-Scale Damage

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The General Police Department (GPD) of Mongolia, with the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol's "Red Notice," has successfully extradited a Mongolian citizen, referred to as "M," from the People's Republic of China. The individual in question was under investigation in 2019 for fraud that resulted in substantial financial damage. However, in 2023, they fled abroad and passed through the Kingdom of Thailand before being detained with the collaboration of the Ministry of Public Security of China and Interpol's National Central Bureau while in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, on August 8 of this year.

On August 14 of this year, the operation to transfer the individual back to Mongolia was carried out with the coordination of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the General Prosecutor, the National Central Bureau of Interpol under the GPD, and the Economic Crime Division.

The Independent Authority Against Corruption Conducts Research on Job Positions Vulnerable to Corruption

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Research and Analysis Department of the Independent Authority Against Corruption conducted research on job positions that may be vulnerable to corruption from August 5-9, 2024. During this period, they received 40 applications and complaints from citizens and legal entities and forwarded them to the relevant departments.

Of the received applications, complaints, and information, 68.2% were related to acts of corruption, with a focus on complaints regarding permits and procurement. Last week, the hotline dedicated to reporting corruption received 190 calls.

In addition, the department completed the data collection for the "State Organization Integrity Assessment 2024" and the "Research on Job Positions in State Organizations Vulnerable to Corruption," according to the Independent Authority Against Corruption.

D.Amarbayasgalan: Will Make the Law Apply Equally to All

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: eguur.mn

Opening the 2024 special session of the Parliament, Speaker D. Amarbaysgalan's speech is presented in full below.

Prime Minister of Mongolia, honorable members of Parliament, and citizens,

Our Parliament, elected in the 2024 regular elections with 126 members, is faced with the important and wide-ranging task of refining the legal framework to meet the needs and demands of new times.

Current social relations in Mongolia are governed by principles and ideas proclaimed in the 1992 Constitution and corresponding laws. 880 laws currently approved by the Parliament are effective.

437 of these laws are regularly followed to regulate everyday social relations. The remaining 443 laws have a temporary nature.

Additionally, eight laws approved before the 1992 new Constitution remain effective.

For instance, the law approved in 1957 for awarding mothers who gave birth and raised many children with medals and increasing state pensions; or the "The Law on Trade Unions of the People's Republic of Mongolia" enacted in 1991.

Additionally, 2768 administrative normative acts registered to regulate social relations exist.

Thus, 32% of legal acts are laws, while 68% are administrative normative acts. This shows that many relations supposed to be regulated by law are instead governed by regulations, granting officials and state organizations the power to establish mandatory norms through laws.

This practice of regulating relations by regulation, which ideally should be regulated by law, can have devastating consequences on human rights.

It further provides grounds to implement laws based on personal opinion, restrict human rights, and undermine the principle of rule of law.

Therefore, the new Parliament with 126 members will take the following main directions in its legislative activities:

Establish a legal system based on human rights and a human-centered legal philosophy;
Make laws clear, understandable, and apply them equally to everyone;
Implement legal regulations promptly to meet rapid societal development needs.

First. Establishing a legal system based on human-centered law philosophy:

When making reforms based on "human-centered legal system" philosophy, the priority will be to ensure that laws and regulations correspond to the rights and interests of citizens and social demands.

This involves transitioning from a state-centered philosophy, which focuses on legal documentation and technical methodology, to a human-centered philosophy that applies equally to existing and future laws.

Relevant international human rights agreements and conventions, along with our legislative acts, have been addressing issues related to targeted groups, such as children's rights, rights of people with disabilities, and women's rights. They also address specific human rights issues, like freedom of expression, belief, ownership, and the right to work.

Upon analyzing the current 318 valid laws, over 800 provisions and clauses violating human rights have been identified.

Our Parliament will exert efforts to address and correct these legal violations.

Our Parliament believes there is a need to study the following issues to create new laws or amend existing laws to improve the legal environment for protecting human rights.

In undertaking legal reforms, we aim to steadfastly uphold the principle of rule of law, the fundamental view of our Constitution, by:

Updating freedom of press laws, refining anti-discrimination legal regulations, ensuring public participation in the legislative process, safeguarding the rights of witnesses and victims, children's rights, and rights of people with disabilities, and establishing a legal system ensuring food and drug safety.

In tandem with this, it's essential to examine whether the current political and legal system is sufficiently grounded to foster deliberative democracy and consensus-based political culture.

Certifying that the laws to be enacted by our Parliament will be aligned with the public interest, crafted with implementation mechanisms, effectively regulating social relations, and based on a high level of ethics.

Second. Making laws clear, understandable, and ensuring laws apply equally to all:

As mentioned earlier, the deviation from upholding the rule of law caused by regulating relations that are supposed to be governed by law through administrative normative acts needs to be rectified and will be a focus for our Parliament.

Officials and state entities often impose norms exceeding the law through their regulations, infringing human rights and fostering bureaucracy, corruption, and ambiguity.

We aim to regulate social relations by law as much as possible, submitting regulatory drafts together with the law drafts to make the legal framework clearer, similar to the European Union, where 95% of social relations are regulated by law and 5% by administrative norms or regulations. This illustrates a principled adherence to the rule of law, proven to be an effective governance method globally.

Third. Aligning legal regulation with the rapid social development requirements without delay:

Global experience shows that a legal environment ensuring fair competition and transparency leads to progress. Therefore, existing and newly adopted laws and regulations need to meet current societal demands.

When viewed from this perspective, several laws that fail to adequately regulate certain social interactions still exist. This results in unresolved regulatory issues, ambiguity in inter-sectoral relations, and significant barriers to introducing scientific and technological achievements and innovations.

Consequently, existing laws need to be reviewed, and new laws need to be developed on some issues.

Mentioning specifically:

Improving the business environment, promoting fair competition, and limiting monopolies remain legally insufficient;
The lack of legal regulation for Coins and Cryptocurrencies, currently regulated by temporary rules, leads to unofficial damages worth tens of billions;
Regulation regarding electronic cigarettes;
Some provisions of the 2002 Civil Code regulating "Trade Relations" between enterprises no longer meet today's needs;
Consumer rights regulations need improvement;
The digitization of judicial processes;
A new legal framework for regulating state property use and control is needed.

These are only some of the issues facing our Parliament in the context of improving our country's legal framework.

There are many more issues awaiting resolution.

Therefore, as new members of the Parliament, we must act as genuine representatives of our citizens, focus on accelerating the country's development with high integrity, and work more transparently and quickly.

I express my full confidence that the esteemed members of Parliament will elevate the value of their esteemed positions by contributing to and setting examples in achieving the Three Perfections of the legal environment of Mongolia: "Human rights-based human-centered philosophy," "Clear, comprehensible, equal application of laws," and "Meeting the needs of rapid societal development."

"318 Laws and 800 Provisions Violate Human Rights, Our Parliament Will Protect Human Rights"

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The emergency session of the State Great Khural began today.

The session is currently listening to the closed-door information from the National Security Council.

The draft resolution to amend the composition of some standing committees has begun to be discussed.

Member of Parliament B.Battsetseg and U.Otgonbayar are to be relieved from the Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports of the State Great Khural. S.Lundeg from the Standing Committee on Ethics and Discipline; B.Zayaabal and B.Uyanga from the Standing Committee on Innovation and Digital Policy; and B.Javkhlan from the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.

Additionally:

Members of Parliament D.Jargalsaikhan, S.Lundeg, and B.Uyanga are to be appointed to the Standing Committee on Industrialization; B.Javkhlan to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Discipline; B.Bat-Erdene to the Standing Committee on Social Policy; B.Battsetseg and J.Ganbaatar to the Standing Committee on Budget; B.Zayaabal and U.Otgonbayar to the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs; and Kh.Gankhuyag to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. This draft resolution was introduced by the Speaker of the State Great Khural, D.Amarbayasgalan.

The vote on the draft resolution was conducted with 109 members participating, and 93 members, or 85%, supported it. Thus, the resolution was approved. Since no member suggested amendments to the final draft of the resolution, it was accepted as heard.

The issue of whether to urgently discuss the draft laws and resolutions has begun. A vote was conducted based on the proposal to support urgent discussion.

107 members participated in the vote, with 84% supporting it. The Draft Resolution of the State Great Khural on "Approval of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program" was referred to the Standing Committee on State Institutions for urgent discussion.

The Speaker of the State Great Khural, D.Amarbayasgalan, advised new members of the State Great Khural to quickly familiarize themselves with how to interact correctly with the voting equipment.

Today, three issues will be discussed at the session:

The Draft Resolution of the State Great Khural on "Approval of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program," submitted by the Government, is subject to urgent discussion.
The draft resolution on amending the composition of some standing committees will be discussed.
Information from the National Security Council of Mongolia will be heard.

Today, the regular special session of the State Great Khural began.

During this special session, the draft resolutions concerning "Approval of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program," "Amendments to the Composition of Some Standing Committees," and "The Composition of Subcommittees" as well as the election of some subcommittee chairpersons will be discussed.

Search Underway for Two Missing Persons in the Kherlen River

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The emergency services have reported that a search is underway for two individuals who went missing after entering the river in a local area.

Regarding the missing persons, one individual from Dornod Province, Kherlen soum, 1st bag, at a place known as "Station's Hospitality Rest Area" (10 km southeast of the provincial center) went into the "Kherlen" river inebriated to cool off and drowned. The other individual from Khentii Province, Bayankhutag soum, Javkhlant bag, at a place known as “Bayankhoshuu” (160 km northeast of the provincial center, at the soum center) also drowned in the "Kherlen" river.

Following the emergency call, search operations for M (38 years old, male), and A (40 years old, male) commenced at 07:00 and 05:00 yesterday. Thus, the public is advised to exercise caution while vacationing and enjoying recreational activities.

Kh. Nyambaatar: If the Car Dealers on the First Lane of Da Khuree Market Do Not Understand the Warnings, Their Cars Will Be Towed

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

It has been decided to repair the road damage in Erdenetolgoi area, the 24th khoroo of Bayanzurkh district, with the reserve fund of the capital city's governor.

During this time, Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar stated, "If the cars of the dealers selling on the first lane of Da Khuree market are not towed, this road will be congested for hours. We have to think about the principle of public interest. However, they are only considering their private interests and parking the cars they want to sell in the front lane of Da Khuree market. If they do not understand after many warnings, we will tow them."

P. Naranbayar: Holding 17 teachers accountable for converting school land into "residential property" and taking it for personal use

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

In connection with preparations for the new academic year, Minister of Education P. Naranbayar provided information.

During this time, he responded to journalists' questions regarding the illegal activities of teachers who privatized school land.

He stated, "The act of stealing or embezzling public property, designated for educational institutions, to build private residences must come to an end during our time.

This cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

A few years ago, within the premises of the First School in Khovd Province, 17 teachers privatized the dormitory, after which the land designation was changed to 'residential property' by their governor. This illegal act took place on April 15, 2019.

The land's designation was supposed to expire after five years, which means it was due to expire on April 14, 2024, and they constructed a building on it. Such law-breaking acts will not be accepted. The act has been stopped, and accountability will be demanded.

Such encroachments into school land, fences should not occur within Mongolian territory. We maintain a firm stance on this matter," he said.

Environment

The Middle River Becomes Algal Blooms Due to Depression Caused by Cleaning, Flood Control Facilities Construction Near S'Outlet

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Middle River has been undergoing cleaning since the beginning of this summer.

As a result, the river's level has drastically dropped, with significant pollution, as citizens have been criticizing. In response, the Ulaanbaatar City Governor’s Office provided the following explanation.

M. Baldandorj, Director of the City Engineering Structures Department at the UB City Governor's Office, stated: "The river cleaning work that began in June is now 94-95 percent complete. We are working in collaboration with five enterprises. Their progress has been slightly delayed.

The Middle River typically flows 2-3 meters wide but can swell beyond its banks during floods. We are clearing sediment that stands 30-40 meters high, with some areas reaching up to 50 meters, which makes the river appear dry and devoid of water. Additionally, simultaneous digging by several organizations has created hollows and bumps, leading to stagnant water and subsequent algal bloom.

Moreover, for the construction of the flood protection facilities near S'Outlet, we have taken steps to reduce the river's flow and block the water level. These activities over the past two months have caused frustration among citizens, which is understandable.

The depressions created, combined with reduced water levels, have resulted in algae growth. Within the next 14 days, we will complete the river's construction. Once the flood protection facilities near S'Outlet are completed, the flow will be fully restored," he stated.

Innovation

P. Naranbayar: Restoring reading texts for grades 1-5 to improve children's reading skills

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The first versions of the new textbooks will be available from October and November. Initially, they will be tested in over 100 schools, and next year they will be implemented nationwide.

Minister of Education P. Naranbayar held a briefing today.

He stated, a large working group of 254 people has been established to revise textbooks, the preschool education program, the national curriculum for students in grades 1-5, and the publication of new textbooks. The working group included professional researchers and representatives from textbook printing companies.

The first versions of the new textbooks will appear from October and November. Initially, they will be tested in over 100 schools, and next year they will be implemented nationwide. In connection with this, the reading texts for students in grades 1-5 will be restored, and the ability of children to comprehend what they read will be improved. It is more important to understand what is read than to read many words per minute.

The newly created textbooks should be interactive, with QR codes or AR, allowing children to engage with their textbooks at a practical level. Without such a learning environment, we cannot keep pace with the world.

Tuition Fees for Public Universities for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

As the new academic year of 2024-2025 approaches, only a few days remain. In this context, the tuition fees of state-owned universities have been clarified.

Currently, information on the tuition fees for this academic year is available for:

Mongolian State University of Education (MSUE)
Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST)
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS)
Mongolian University of Life Sciences (MULS)

However, although the Board of Directors has made a decision regarding the tuition fees of the National University of Mongolia (NUM), it has not yet been officially confirmed.

MUST has posted on its official website the tuition fees per credit for this academic year. The price per credit varies depending on the program.

For more details on the student accommodation and tuition fees, you can click here.

The MSUE's Admissions Office announced that from the 2024-2025 academic year, the tuition for students studying to become teachers has been made free as per the government's decision.

Thus, students pursuing non-teaching majors across 15 different fields will pay tuition to study at MSUE. However, students training to become teachers who meet the following criteria will study for free.

New students scoring above 480 in their respective subjects receive a 100% scholarship.
Students in the 2nd to 4th year with a GPA above 2.7 from the previous semester are eligible for scholarships.

Teachers trained at MSUE must work in rural areas for 3-5 years upon graduation.

The National University of Medical Sciences has posted information on the tuition fees for first-year students for the 2024-2025 academic year on its website.

The tuition for first-year students at MULS is the same across all majors. Specifically, the cost per credit is 135,000 MNT as clarified by their financial office.

For the School of Culture under the SUIS, the tuition fee per credit is 99,000 MNT for 1st to 3rd-year students. Meanwhile, the tuition for the 4th-year students is set at 91,000 MNT as approved by their Board of Directors.

The SUIS consists of six schools, and the credit fees vary for each school, according to school officials.

Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social media, and Web pages) must mention their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either fully or in parts.

School Year Opening on Sunday, the 1st, Classes Start on the 2nd

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Minister of Education, P. Naranbayar, provided information on the preparations for the new school year.

Although the opening of this year's new school year falls on Sunday, September 1st, it will be organized as an open event according to tradition. The opening, however, will be conducted in a modest manner, allowing parents and children to get acquainted with the school environment and teachers. On Monday, September 2nd, students and teachers will begin their classes directly.

The Admission Threshold Score for Universities Will Be Raised

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Minister P. Naranbayar mentioned today in his statement that the decision has been made to increase the admission threshold score for universities.

He stated, "If we do not raise the threshold score, how will a university that admits students with poor skills ever develop into a research university? This has been included in the government's action plan, and research work is ongoing. Representatives from state-owned universities have suggested raising the threshold score above 520. Additionally, we will listen to the perspectives of representatives from private universities before making our decision.

This decision is not related to this year's admissions and will be implemented from next year onwards. However, we will gather feedback from those affected by this issue and resolve it accordingly. Nevertheless, it is necessary to raise the entry threshold score in our future policy direction. By doing so, we can improve the skills and quality of universities and develop them into research universities," he said.

Mongolian Children Win Silver Medal at the First Artificial Intelligence Olympiad

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The first Artificial Intelligence Olympiad concluded in Burgas, Bulgaria, from August 9th to 14th. More than 200 students competed in two stages at this olympiad. A team of four from Mongolia participated, led by Z. Tsolmon, a lecturer in Information Technology and Electronics at the National University of Mongolia. The team included students E. Tenuun, Ch. Irmuun, N. Batsuukh, and T. Enguun, who won a silver medal in the Artificial Intelligence Olympiad.

The aim of the olympiad was to develop students' critical thinking, enhance scientific and practical knowledge, provide insights into the vast opportunities in the field of information technology, and engage in an open discussion on ethical issues related to artificial intelligence.

The olympiad was organized for high school students to explore the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence and prepare the next generation. Students competed with their creative thinking and problem-solving skills on a model platform. They also worked on exercises that tested their theoretical and practical knowledge.

The International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence will be held next year in Beijing, China.

Mongolian Team Wins Silver Medal at the First Artificial Intelligence Olympiad

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Mongolian team won a silver medal at the First Artificial Intelligence Olympiad held in Burgas, Republic of Bulgaria, from August 9-14, 2024.

A total of 41 teams from 33 countries competed in the Olympiad.

The Mongolian team was led by Z. Tsolmon, a teacher of Information Technology and Electronics at the National University of Mongolia, and included:

Ch. Irmuun, a student from Erhet Erdem School,
E. Tenuun, a student from Hobby School,
N. Batsuukh, a student from Oyundalai School,
T. Enguun, a student from Sant School.

Health

P. Naranbayar: The cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals will be increased by 1000 MNT, taken from parents

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Due to the upcoming new academic year, Minister of Education P. Naranbayar provided information on current issues. During this, he stated that the money for kindergarten children would be increased by a thousand MNT, and that parents would bear this cost.

Minister of Education P. Naranbayar said that they are working on bringing the issue of increasing the cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals by 1000 MNT to the government's decision. The background of this is that last May, a government resolution increased the money for kindergarten children's meals by 500 MNT. This is the cost of the raw materials, which has now become 2500-3000 MNT. With this increase, the nutritional intake of the children is now 52-53 percent. So, the children were still left wanting.

By adding a thousand MNT, this will reach 72-73 percent. This will be initiated within the scope of kindergartens in the capital. One might wonder where this expense will come from. The parents will bear this cost. Assuming the child attends kindergarten 22 times a month, the parents will provide 22,000 MNT for meals. By increasing the money for the raw materials for meals in this way, children will have the opportunity to eat sufficiently nutritious meals.

Also, the General Education Law includes a provision that states that parents "share" the cost. So, this is in accordance with that provision. We've been raising this issue for eight years but have been unable to resolve it. The thousand MNT you contribute will be dedicated solely to your child.

Parents to Pay 1,000 MNT Daily for Kindergarten Meals

Published: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 | Translated from: montsame.mn

In relation to the preparations for the new academic year, Education Minister P. Naranbayar held a briefing. Here's a summary of the information provided by the Minister of Education.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, parents will cover the daily meal cost of 1,000 MNT for kindergarten children. The proposal to increase the raw material cost for kindergarten meals by 1,000 MNT is being prepared for government approval. In May, the government decided to increase the children's meal fee by 500 MNT, making the raw material cost for cooking 3,000 MNT. This increase raised the nutritional intake for children to 52-53%. However, children are still not fully satiated. Therefore, by increasing the kindergarten meal cost by another 1,000 MNT, their nutritional intake will potentially rise to over 70%. Parents who send their children to kindergarten will cover the meal costs. For instance, if a child attends preschool for 22 days a month, the cost will amount to 22,000 MNT. This aims to ensure children can eat enough to be satiated. The 1,000 MNT paid by you will be dedicated to your child. The General Law of Education includes a clause stating that parents will share in the meal costs for kindergarten children. We've been discussing this issue for eight years without a solution," he stated.

In addition, a working group composed of 254 individuals has been formed to revise textbooks, the pre-school education program, the national curriculum for grades 1-5, and the textbooks. The new version of the textbooks is set to be released in October-November. Initially, it will be tested in 100 schools, with plans for national implementation starting next year. Consequently, the reading books for grades 1-5 will be redeveloped to enhance children's reading skills. The new textbooks will feature interactive QR codes or augmented reality (AR) elements, providing an opportunity for children to engage interactively with their textbooks.

Additionally, Education Minister P. Naranbayar provided information on universities. He said, "We have proposed raising the threshold score to over 520 following discussions with representatives of state universities. The views of private university representatives will also be considered before making a decision. This will not affect this year's admissions but will be implemented starting next year. Feedback will be sought from those directly impacted by this decision. There is a necessity to increase the threshold scores for admissions to enhance the capabilities and quality of universities, facilitating their development into research universities," he said.

September 1st, marking the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, falls on a Sunday. On this day, kindergartens and first and sixth-grade students, along with their parents, will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the school and kindergarten environments during an open day. Essentially, the September 1st activities are set to be carried out modestly and accessibly. Classes and educational activities are scheduled to begin directly from Monday, September 2nd. Higher education institutions will also initiate opening events on September 2nd, aligning them with regional policies.

P. Naranbayar: Kindergarten Meal Raw Material Cost Increased by 1000 MNT and the Increase to be Borne by Parents

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Due to the preparations for the new academic year, Minister of Education P. Naranbayar is providing information.

He stated that the cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals will be increased by 1000 MNT. This cost will be borne by the parents. Calculating for 22 working days, parents will pay a monthly fee of 22,000 MNT. This will raise the daily meal cost for each child to 2500-3000 MNT, ensuring they are adequately fed. This initiative will first be implemented in the capital city.

The government will cover the expenses for children from target group households. The General Law on Education stipulates that parents should share the cost of kindergarten meals for their children. This provision is being implemented now. We have been unable to resolve this issue for eight years since it was raised. The 1000 MNT you contribute per day will solely be for your child's meals.

P. Naranbayar: The cost of raw materials for kindergarten meals will be increased by 1000 tugrik, and parents will bear the increase

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In relation to the preparation for the new academic year, the Minister of Education, P. Naranbayar, is providing information.

He stated that the cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals will be increased by 1000 tugrik. This cost will be borne by the parents. Calculated for 22 working days, 22,000 tugrik will be paid monthly. As a result, the daily meal cost for a child will reach 2500-3000 tugrik, sufficient to satisfy their hunger. This initiative will first be implemented in the capital.

The state will cover the expenses for children from targeted household groups. The General Law on Education includes a provision that states parents should share the cost of kindergarten children's meals. This provision is being implemented. We have been unable to resolve this issue for eight years since we raised it. The 1000 tugrik you provide daily will solely be used for your child's meals, he said.

Parents give their middle and high school children MNT 23,000-43,000 per week, but are they buying healthy food?

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A discussion is being held today involving representatives from government and non-governmental organizations, international organizations, general education schools, kindergartens, and parents with the aim of improving the nutrition of school and kindergarten meals.

Since May 2024, the lunch for over 242,000 children in public kindergartens is being funded at 3,000 MNT, and 24-hour and special needs kindergartens' meal costs are being funded at 4,100 MNT.

Before 2008, a certain portion of kindergarten meal costs was paid by parents. From 2008 to 2016, the government covered all the expenses, and since 2016, a law has been in place stating that parents should bear a certain portion of the cost, but this has not been implemented over the past eight years.

Addressing this issue requires consideration of numerous factors, such as the living standards of the population. This was highlighted by T. Tumenjargal, the head of the School Meal Production Department of the Ministry of Education and Science, during his presentation.

He stated, "In a nationwide survey involving over 300,000 parents, when asked whether their children drink breakfast, 50% answered 'Yes,' while the other 50% come to school on an empty stomach.

Regarding the inability to provide lunch to middle and high school students, a survey among the parents revealed that parents give their children MNT 23,000-43,000 per week.

Whether children are able to buy healthy food with this money is a concern. Therefore, providing nutritious meals suited to the children's needs at school might be more effective. This issue will be discussed."

Please note that media organizations (TV, Radio, Social, and Websites) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using this information partially or fully.

The Cost of Kindergarten Children's Lunch or 1,000 MNT to be Charged to Parents

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

In preparation for the new academic year, the Minister of Education P. Naranbayar has provided information.

He discussed charging parents 1,000 MNT for kindergarten children's lunch.

"We are working to implement a proposal through a government resolution to increase the cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals by 1,000 MNT.

In May last year, a government resolution was issued, increasing children's meal costs by 500 MNT. As a result, the cost of raw materials for cooking became 2,500-3,000 MNT.

With this monetary increase, the nutritional intake for children reached 52, 53 percent. However, children still are not fully satisfied.

By raising the kindergarten children's meal cost by another 1,000 MNT, their nutritional intake will reach over 70 percent.

So, where will this cost come from?

The meal cost will be borne by the parents who enroll their children in kindergarten. For example, estimating the attendance of children for 22 days in a month, it will increase the cost of cooking raw materials by 22,000 MNT. This way, children will have the opportunity to eat until they are satisfied.

The 1,000 MNT you pay will be dedicated to your child.

The General Education Law includes a provision for the division of the kindergarten children's meal cost with parents. We've been raising this issue for eight years, but a solution has not been reached," he stated.

Sports

The Mongolian Weightlifting Federation Rewards M. Ankhtsetseg's Success with a Three-Room Apartment

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Mongolian Weightlifting Federation has rewarded the success of honored athlete M. Ankhtsetseg, who successfully represented her country at the XXXIII Summer Games, with a three-room apartment. Members of the Federation's Board of Directors presented the keys in recognition of M. Ankhtsetseg's 17 years of work and her achievements in raising Mongolia's name on the global stage.

M. Ankhtsetseg has re-established national records in weightlifting 88 times and won the national championship (UASH) 14 times. She has claimed a gold, three silvers, and two bronzes at the World Championships (WCH), along with two golds, three silvers, and five bronzes at the Asian Championships (AACH). Additionally, she has earned the titles of World Student and Youth Champion, making a historic contribution to Mongolian weightlifting sports. Moreover, she placed eighth at the "Rio-2016" Games, fourth at the "Tokyo-2020" Games, and tenth at the "Paris-2024" Games.

12 Athletes from Mongolia to Compete in the Summer Paralympic Games

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

There are 13 days remaining until the start of the 16th Summer Paralympic Games. In this edition of the games, more than 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 sports for a total of 549 medals. Our country is ready to send 12 athletes to compete in six events. Mongolia will participate in the games in judo, archery, taekwondo, powerlifting, athletics, and swimming.

Mongolia started participating in the Paralympic Games in 2000 and has won two gold and three bronze medals. The first Paralympic medal for Mongolia was won by state merit athlete D. Baatarjav in 2008 when he secured a gold medal in archery, making history by having the national anthem played.

Following him, state merit athlete E. Sonompiljee and distinguished athlete B. Uugankhuu have also won medals at the Paralympics. Let's introduce the athletes who will participate in the 16th games.

In the men's 107 kg powerlifting category, E. Sonompiljee, who has won a Paralympic gold, a bronze, three World Championship golds, and four silvers, and who is a six-time World Cup champion and two-time Asian champion, is preparing to compete. He will also have the honor of being the flag bearer for Mongolia at the opening of the games, marking his third participation in the Paralympics.

In the T-53 wheelchair athlete category for the 100-meter race, international master P. Enkhmanlai will compete, having made his debut on the track at the “Tokyo-2020” Paralympic Games. In the F-40 category shot put event in para athletics, international master Ts. Battulga has qualified to compete. This will be his first participation in the Paralympic Games, following his bronze medal win at the "Hangzhou-2022" Asian Summer Paralympic Games.

The first Mongolian swimmer to participate in the Paralympic Games is Kh. Nomun, who will compete in the 50 and 400-meter freestyle events. He showcased his talents at the "Hangzhou-2022" Asian Games and is considered a promising rising athlete.

Additionally, in the para archery event, athletes D. Selengaa, a World Championship team bronze and Asian Championship bronze medalist, and B. Oyun-Erdene, an Asian Championship bronze medalist, will compete at the Paris target range. In taekwondo, G. Bolor-Erdene and U. Surenzhav will face their opponents. Distinguished athlete G. Bolor-Erdene, who has five World Championship gold medals, has been crowned Asian champion five times and emerged victorious at the "Hangzhou-2022" Asian Games, will participate in his second Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, U. Surenzhav, with a World Championship bronze and a "Hangzhou-2022" Asian Games silver medal, will debut at the Paralympic Games. In the J-1 judo category, T. Suvd-Erdene will compete in the women's 48 kg class, L. Turunaa in the 70 kg class, while B. Battugs will compete in the men's -90 kg category, and D. Ganbat in the +90 kg category.

The first group of Mongolian athletes will head to Paris on the 18th of this month, with the archers being the first to begin their events on the 29th. Here is the schedule for the Mongolian athletes.

Arts

PHOTO: The Great Buddha

Published: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Unfortunately, since 1940, atheist ideology has dominated Mongolia, and as a result, Mongolians themselves destroyed this unique and magnificent creation by developing hostility towards anything related to it.

There is an old story about Japanese pilots flying with orders to drop bombs in the vicinity of the Halhgol, but despite circling over the Great Buddha several times, they were so impressed with this masterpiece of art that they left without dropping any bombs.

In the area of Halhgol in the Dornod province, 35 km north of the center of the sum, there is a unique and beautiful creation called the Great Buddha located at coordinates N 47°52'23" E 118°27'13" on the banks of the Halh River at an altitude of 655 meters above sea level.

The creation is made using the eastern slope of a mountain, directed from east to west, and indeed presents a majestic visage from afar. The shape of a large Buddha stands out clearly.

This magnificent creation was made between 1859 and 1864 by embedding natural stones into the ground. It's said that there is no such creation of similar form and size in Mongolia or throughout Central Asia.

First, let's briefly mention the history of this unparalleled cultural heritage.

In the mid-19th century, in Setsenkhan province, which geographically covers today's Sukhbaatar, Khentii, Dornod, and Gobisumber provinces, as well as parts of Russia's Chita and China's Hulun Lake areas, continual natural disasters, drought, and harsh winters led to severe loss of livestock and made people's lives very difficult.

Thus, widely renowned throughout Mongolia, Halh's Setsenkhan province's Ilden sect lord Bat-Ochir Togtohtor sought to resolve this by gathering enlightened monks for discussion. In the end, it was decided to create the image of the Buddha Jambai.

The locals called the image "Aryabal, the Rescuer from Eight Dangers," as it is located in the far east of Mongolia, where the morning sun lights up the horizon starting from the feet of this Buddha, thereby blessing the entire country with the morning light. It is believed that this Buddha protects against disasters entering Mongolia from the east, which I later heard from someone knowledgeable.

From a religious or spiritual point of view, this may seem true. It might even feel as though the Japanese invaders could not penetrate beyond this region and ultimately faced defeat.

Several of the 23 clans of Setsen Khan agreed to contribute to the making of the Buddha, while Togtohtor personally oversaw the construction efforts.

Initially, efforts to construct a 12-garland height copper Jambai Buddha near the Tamsag spring and Utai Mountain's Cultural Enhancer Temple were underway, but the Buddha collapsed. Considering it as the wrath of the land and waters, they chose to create it on the east slope, where the sun rises first, using natural stones over two years but again were thwarted by a great rain lasting three days.

Thus, it was decided to construct the Buddha on the west bank of the Halh River, on a slope facing eastwards, bathed by sunlight, where the Buddha resides today.

It is said in the Secret History of the Mongols that after Chinggis Khan defeated the Khereid state, his tribe migrated and overwintered and springed in the area in 1203-1204, during a harsh winter.

To avoid burdening local families with donations, the idea of using natural stones for construction arose, whereby they called upon every household with livestock to contribute an ox cart, and payments were made daily for the second and third ox carts with tea and money, developing mutually beneficial work practices.

Learning from two previous failed attempts, significant experience was acquired by the time they began work on an area 220x97 in size.

Unfortunately, since 1940, atheist ideology has dominated Mongolia, and as a result, Mongolians themselves destroyed this unique and magnificent creation by developing hostility towards anything related to it. One such example is the immense damage to it by using its stones as building foundations, storages, and garages from 1960 to 1975. In truth, during the Battle of Halhgol in 1939, not a bullet or shrapnel hit it, and even our enemies respected and preserved it.

Just as time does not stand still, and nothing remains the same, when the right to freely worship our religion and Buddhism was restored, the first attempt to restore the Buddha was made in 1996. However, since improper professional techniques and methods were used, cement was applied to it, making it appear even worse. The image of the Buddha is currently kept in the aimag museum in Choibalsan city. Seeing it will surely take one's breath away.

The task of restoring the Buddha properly was defined by the government's Resolution No. 303 in 2007 and was scheduled for implementation between 2008-2015. By mid-June 2016, when we arrived, the restoration process had already started. Upon close observation, the cement contamination had been cleaned.

If you have the opportunity to visit Dornod province someday, please visit the aimag museum, witness this magnificent creation, and let your eyes rejoice.

Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Sports

Arts

Politics

TODAY: Opening of the Special Session of Parliament

The Special Session of the State Great Khural Will Discuss the 2024 Budget Revision and Government’s Action Plan

A joint government program will be discussed at the extraordinary session

EVENT: A Special Session of the State Great Hural Will Be Held

The President's Brother, U.Otgonbayar, Is Released from the Education, Culture, Science, and Sports Standing Committee

The new parliament with 126 members will adhere to the following main directions in its legislative activities

President U.Khurelsukh Will Listen to the Information of the National Security Council

Economy

Russia Extends Fuel Export Ban to Non-Treaty Countries Until End of Year

MNT Deposits Exceed 2023 Figures by 5.6 Trillion MNT

Infrastructure

In Cooperation with China, an International School of Science and Technology Engineering Will be Built in Khushig Valley

R. Ganjur: The Power Will Fail Frequently This Coming Winter, Prepare Not Only Candles and Matches but Also Warm Coats

The Dormitory of Khovd Aimag's School No. 1 was Privatized and Teachers Built Apartments

"Ulaanbaatar Railway" Receives Five New Locomotives

The Largest Integrated Platform in the Construction Sector Highlights the ACTIVE GARDEN Project as a Model Project

Storm Drain System Near Eredentolgoi to be Newly Built Using the Mayor's Reserve Fund

The Stormwater Drain System in the Erdenetolgoy Area Will Be Newly Built Using the Governor's Reserve Funds

L. Khosbayar: The Dispute Over the Kindergarten Site Being Built Near the Bogd-Ar Complex Will Be Resolved

A Flood Protection Embankment is Being Built on the Demolished Site of S'Outlets Store

Bus Stops Relocated

Society

D. Amarbayasgalan: We will abolish regulations that exceed the law and create a legal environment that respects human rights

Transferred from China: The Individual Who Escaped Abroad While Under Investigation for Fraud and Causing Large-Scale Damage

The Independent Authority Against Corruption Conducts Research on Job Positions Vulnerable to Corruption

D.Amarbayasgalan: Will Make the Law Apply Equally to All

"318 Laws and 800 Provisions Violate Human Rights, Our Parliament Will Protect Human Rights"

Search Underway for Two Missing Persons in the Kherlen River

Kh. Nyambaatar: If the Car Dealers on the First Lane of Da Khuree Market Do Not Understand the Warnings, Their Cars Will Be Towed

P. Naranbayar: Holding 17 teachers accountable for converting school land into "residential property" and taking it for personal use

Environment

The Middle River Becomes Algal Blooms Due to Depression Caused by Cleaning, Flood Control Facilities Construction Near S'Outlet

Innovation

P. Naranbayar: Restoring reading texts for grades 1-5 to improve children's reading skills

Tuition Fees for Public Universities for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

School Year Opening on Sunday, the 1st, Classes Start on the 2nd

The Admission Threshold Score for Universities Will Be Raised

Mongolian Children Win Silver Medal at the First Artificial Intelligence Olympiad

Mongolian Team Wins Silver Medal at the First Artificial Intelligence Olympiad

Health

P. Naranbayar: The cost of raw materials for kindergarten children's meals will be increased by 1000 MNT, taken from parents

Parents to Pay 1,000 MNT Daily for Kindergarten Meals

P. Naranbayar: Kindergarten Meal Raw Material Cost Increased by 1000 MNT and the Increase to be Borne by Parents

P. Naranbayar: The cost of raw materials for kindergarten meals will be increased by 1000 tugrik, and parents will bear the increase

Parents give their middle and high school children MNT 23,000-43,000 per week, but are they buying healthy food?

The Cost of Kindergarten Children's Lunch or 1,000 MNT to be Charged to Parents

Sports

The Mongolian Weightlifting Federation Rewards M. Ankhtsetseg's Success with a Three-Room Apartment

12 Athletes from Mongolia to Compete in the Summer Paralympic Games

Arts

PHOTO: The Great Buddha

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