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Hope you had a joyful Naadam! Mongolians often say, “Autumn comes right after Naadam,” as many take extended summer breaks, some lasting nearly a month. With most fully back to work by September, this period is known for its relaxed pace before productivity picks up again. Definitely one of the essential things to know about Mongolian culture! 😳

In today’s newsletter:

• 🗺️ Presidential Visit to Central Asia

• 🧭 Tourism Growth Accelerates in 2025

• 📨 Diplomatic Congratulations to Mongolia

No Time to Waste. Let’s Get Started! 🦘

MARKET

MNG: President U.Khurelsulk to pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan on July 20, followed by Tajikistan from July 23 to 26.

MSE: Smart Deal JSC has announced a tender offer to purchase 80,040 shares of Ar Bayankhangai (ABH) at ₮816.2 per share.

GOV: The Government of Mongolia will auction ₮5 billion worth of 52-week coupon bonds on the primary market via the Mongolian Stock Exchange on July 23, 2025.

🧭 Tourism Surge Continues in 2025

In the first half of 2025, Mongolia welcomed 328,395 tourists, a solid 33.6% jump compared to the same period last year. 

• 🙌🏻 It’s Working: This boost didn’t happen by chance. Over the past 2 years, campaigns like “Welcome to Mongolia” and “GoMongolia” have played a key role in attracting visitors and reshaping Mongolia’s image on the global stage.

☝🏻 Honest Assessment:

While overall tourist numbers have risen, just 5 countries make up over 80% of Mongolia’s tourism portfolio. Unsurprisingly, most visitors come from neighboring China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, alongside overseas countries South Korea and Japan. What’s notable this year is a shift within this group. Last year, South Korea led the growth, but in 2025, Japan has taken the spotlight with a remarkable 69.9% surge.

• 📰 Breaking Down the Numbers: Japan’s arrivals jumped 69.6% to 4.5 thousand, while China’s increased 58.9% to 34.8 thousand. South Korea grew by 28.6% to 13.2 thousand, Russia by 8.4% to 7.4 thousand, and Kazakhstan edged up 3.7% to 0.3 thousand.

• 🔎 Looking at visitor demographics, 58% of tourists were aged 35 to 59, a key segment for spending and exploration. Regarding trip duration, nearly 87% stayed up to 30 days, with 13.9% staying less than 10 days. Longer stays of more than 90 days accounted for a significant 12.2%, while just 1.1% stayed between 60 and 90 days.

Finally… With peak season months, July and August, yet to be counted, 2025 is on track for record-breaking tourism numbers. The potential is enormous, but sustaining this growth requires investments in infrastructure. To keep tourists returning, improvements in transportation, accommodation, and services are essential.

So far, the outlook is promising. Mongolia’s tourism sector is on a solid upward trajectory. The challenge now is to convert this momentum into sustainable growth that benefits local communities and preserves the country’s unique heritage.

⭐ Selected for you

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

• British Tech Firm Skyral to Fight Mongolia's Deadly Pollution with Advanced Traffic Modelling. (Cision)

• Jeonbuk National University Becomes 'Partner in Mapping out Mongolian Youths' Dreams and Futures. (KoreaJoongAngDaily)

• Mongolia to host 70th International Mathematical Olympiad in 2029. (MMOC) 

POLITICS

• The Foreign Minister of Croatia Arrives in Mongolia. (AKIPress)

• Saudi Arabia, Mongolia Sign Air Transport Services Agreement. (OANANews)

• Everything Old is New Again: Mongolia and Central Asia Forge Relations. (TheAstanaTimes) 

• Open Call: Join the Hunnu City International Urban Planning Competition. (ArchDaily)

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

• Mongolia and South Korea Launch Joint Study on Cultural Heritage Site Kharbukhiin Balgas. (KoreaNet)

• The World’s First National Park isn’t in the US. It’s in Mongolia. (CNN)

• Lost Turkish City Togu Balik: Unearthing New Secrets About Turks in Mongolia. (TurkiyeToday)

• As the Dalai Lama Succession Looms, Mongolia Faces Its Most Delicate Test Yet. (MongoliaWeekly)

📨 Diplomatic Messages for Mongolia

In a remarkable diplomatic gesture, heads of state from 72 countries, including Presidents, Kings, Sultans, and Sheikhs, sent congratulatory letters to Mongolia’s President on the occasion of Naadam.  

• 🙌🏻 Although Naadam is primarily a cultural celebration, congratulatory letters are a standard diplomatic gesture. Yet when global powers like China, Russia, and the U.S. express interest in future cooperation, the messages carry added weight, signaling Mongolia’s rising relevance as a trusted partner amid shifting regional dynamics.

🕺🏻 What Did They Say?

The U.S. President highlighted 38 years of results-driven partnership, reaffirming commitment to deepen ties in natural resources, energy, and trade sectors key to Mongolia’s growth. Notably, the U.S. underscored its interest in Mongolia’s rare earth elements.

• 🗣️ The UK King praised strong bilateral relations and shared priorities like climate action and sustainability, echoing Mongolia’s development goals. Last year, former Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Mongolia and voiced interest in its rare earth potential.

⛓️ Eternal Neighbors

Mongolia’s “eternal neighbors,” Russia and China, used their Naadam messages to reaffirm strategic narratives. President Vladimir Putin emphasized the enduring friendship between the 2 countries, signaling Russia’s intent to keep Mongolia closely aligned within its Eurasian stability framework, where Mongolia serves as a regional balancer amid growing geopolitical rivalry.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, invoked geographic proximity and cultural kinship, framing China-Mongolia ties as a deepening strategic partnership and a “model” of good-neighborly cooperation.

👻 Black Sheep

Few countries manage to maintain strong ties with Western democracies while also engaging with authoritarian neighbors such as Russia, China, and North Korea. North Korea’s leader’s recent message highlights Mongolia’s role as a neutral and trusted partner in a complex region. This balanced diplomacy allows Mongolia to act as a rare bridge between East and West, navigating geopolitical divides with stability and pragmatism.

Putting together… Mongolia has consistently maintained a neutral stance amid complex geopolitical tensions between major powers. While some critics label this approach as passive or weak, Mongolia’s position as a landlocked country sandwiched between Russia and China requires careful diplomacy. 

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Publisher: Ts.Ankhbayar
Writer: M.Khulan
Graphics by: Ts.Tselmeg

Disclaimer: The information Inside Mongolia provides is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be or constitute financial advice, trading advice, or any other advice. The decision whether to consider the information we provide is solely our readers' independent decision.