Mongolia

11 October 2024
Galym, the ethnic-Kazakh eagle hunter whose family the author stayed with in Mongolia: The bond between horseman and his eagle is strong. (All photos by Charukesi Ramadurai)
Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, left, with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a welcoming ceremony in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 3. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
International relations

Mongolia's defiance of Putin arrest warrant shows reliance on Russia

Vital energy imports discussed in Russian leader's first visit in 5 years

4 September 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh pledged to increase bilateral cooperation when they met in November 2022. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Defense

Japan, Mongolia to agree on defense equipment cooperation at summit

Ulaanbaatar pursues diverse tie-ups as China and Russia build up military

5 August 2024
Yoshinoya Holdings opened its first Mongolia location in 2022 and now has three restaurants. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Food & Beverage

Mongolia's food scene expands with Yoshinoya beef bowls, Japanese ramen

Booming economy attracts Japan restaurant chains as middle class grows

10 July 2024
Campaign posters are seen in Ulaanbaatar ahead of the June 28 parliamentary elections. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Politics

Mongolia votes in historic election under revamped system

Parliament expanded to promote inclusion but public shows little enthusiasm

28 June 2024
Gombojav Zandanshatar, chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on May 23. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Interview

Mongolia to step up hunt for nickel, lithium and rare earths

Supply chain diversification spurs search for new deposits, top politician says

9 June 2024
Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, center, attends a commencement ceremony for underground production at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in the Gobi Desert in March 2023.
Economy

Mongolia digs in against doubts over fund to spread mining wealth

PM insists resources should benefit all; some question implementation, transparency

1 June 2024
Gombojav Zandanshatar, chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia, speaks at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on May 23. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
The Future of Asia 2024

Top Mongolian politician stresses commitment to eliminating corruption

Parliament chief Gombojav Zandanshatar says enlarged legislature adds checks and balances

23 May 2024
The reservoir for the Erdeneburen hydroelectric project would submerge a large area now used by migratory birds and herders from various ethnic groups. 
Opinion

Mongolian dam belies Xi's promise of a 'small and beautiful' BRI

Funded by Chinese loans, project carries environmental and social risks

12 January 2024
Items on display at "Genghis Khan: How the Mongols Changed the World," being held from Oct. 14, 2023, to May 5, 2024, at the Nantes History Museum in France. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Erdennechuluun Purevjav & Nemekhbayar Nadpurev Collection, Mongolia; Chinggis Khaan National Museum, Ulaanbaatar; David Gallard/LVAN)
Arts

China's Mongolian culture wars backfire in France

How Beijing tried to suppress an exhibit on Genghis Khan's legacy

17 December 2023
The members of team Future Programmer Girls proudly display the online game they developed during the Girls for Coding program in Ulaanbaatar. (Photo by Johan Nylander)
Life

Girl power is helping shape Mongolia's digital future

Coding boot camp reveals country's economic potential to diversify from mining

2 November 2023
President Emmanuel Macron welcomes his Mongolian counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to the Elysee Palace in Paris as part of his state visit.
Materials

Mongolia opens way for uranium mining with $1.7bn French deal

Production at southwestern site could start in 2028, says French miner Orano

13 October 2023
Mongolia's Bayan Obo mine supplies rare-earth minerals. (File photo by Reuters) 
Materials

Mongolia seeks foreign help to produce minerals used for EVs

More investments are needed to unlock Mongolia's 'huge potential,' official says

9 February 2023
Protesters gather on the steps of the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar in December 2022: Demonstrations have been an important part of the social landscape.
Opinion

Mongolia needs to be reconnected to the outside world

COVID and Ukraine war have left nation even more dependent on China and Russia

3 February 2023
Helen Botanical Beauty has been exporting its organic exfoliating soap -- which has a wool felt wrapper enclosing a ball of soap made from sheep tail fat and other natural ingredients -- to Europe. (Photo by Uugansukh Byamba)
Startups

Mongolian entrepreneurs exploit cheap wool for new products

Sheep fleece turned into fertilizer and soap for export

25 April 2022
The Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia's South Gobi region. Mongolia owns 34% of what is one of the world's largest-known copper and gold deposits, with Rio controlling the rest.
Materials

Rio Tinto and Mongolia settle feud over Oyu Tolgoi copper mine

Deal marks a positive development for Anglo-Australian mining giant

25 January 2022
Foreign investors played little role in last year’s Mongolian Stock Exchange rally. (Source photos by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Market Spotlight

Mongolia stock market turns heads with 133% gain

Benchmark index topped world in 2021 as investors prepared for bank IPOs

14 January 2022
Turquoise Hill Resources warned this week that the expansion of Oyu Tolgoi could be further delayed unless Rio Tinto and the Mongolian government can agree on financing terms by the end of the month. (Courtesy Turquoise Hill Resources)
Materials

Mongolia pushes Rio for more concessions in $7bn mine talks

Government asks for full debt forgiveness after Australian company raises offer

3 November 2021
After 10 years of a mining-led economic boom, many Mongolians still struggle to make ends meet.
The Big Story

Mongolia's missing millions: What happened to a decadelong mining boom

Striking it rich with huge mineral deposits. What could go wrong?

13 October 2021
Rio Tinto has offered to waive interest on its loan to Mongolia to finance its share of the costs for the underground phase of Oyu Tolgoi, a government official said. (Courtesy Turquoise Hill Resources)
Materials

Mongolia to 'carefully review' financing offer from Rio Tinto

Officials warn $6.8bn Oyu Tolgoi expansion talks could take several years

31 August 2021
A medical worker prepares an injection of the Sinophorm vaccine in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (Photo by Chadraa Chadraabal)
COVID vaccines

Mongolia's mass jabs fail to suppress COVID spread

Nation has Asia's highest rates of vaccinations and confirmed infections

26 July 2021
Former Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa declared victory Wednesday night in Mongolia's presidential election.
Politics

Mongolia presidential vote: ex-PM Khurelsukh declares victory

Head of ruling party solidified support with track record against coronavirus

10 June 2021
Sodnomzunduin Erdene, right, delivers a speech during his presidential campaign. (Photo by Baramsai Chadraabal)
Politics

Mongolian presidential vote to turn on handling of COVID

Former PM Khurelsukh stands on People's Party's record in offering aid

9 June 2021
Older Mongolians lined up outside health centers on Thursday hoping to get their second shot of COVID vaccine, but the public vaccination program only resumed Friday. (Photo by Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir)
COVID vaccines

Mongolia resumes vaccinations as worst outbreak rolls on

Free from COVID in 2020, nation of 2m grapples with a sudden surge

23 April 2021
A woman walks past Drum Tower during morning rush hour as Beijing is hit by a sandstorm on March 15. 
Caixin

Vast sandstorms expose Mongolia's long-ignored ecological crisis

Desertification threatens largely agricultural country of 3.4m people

29 March 2021
Big sky country: Mongolia's plans for more renewable energy capacity will move forward with a new storage-equipped solar plant.
Engineering & Construction

Mongolia's first solar-plus-storage project won by Japan-led bid

Plant engineer JGC teams with local builder on plant to power city of 20,000

20 March 2021
In December, Rio Tinto admitted the underground expansion of Oyu Tolgoi would take an additional two years and $1.5 billion more than expected. 
Materials

Rio and Mongolia agree to replace $7bn plan to expand copper mine

New leaders to work out deal to better share rising project costs

1 March 2021
Mongolians stand in an hourslong line in bitter cold to get tested for COVID-19 in order to leave Ulaanbaatar and return to their native provinces. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Coronavirus

Mongolia loses battle to stay COVID-free

People cry foul at impromptu measures imposed following months with no cases

16 December 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wears a protective face mask on Sept. 29. 
30 September 2020
Ulaanbaatar's residential area, the district where the poorer part of the population lives: nearly a third of the nation's 3.2 million people live below the poverty line.
Opinion

Mongolia's economy is stuck between China, Russia and US

Reelected prime minister must navigate geopolitical tensions

29 June 2020