Latest news with #Montsame
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Emperor meets with Mongolian president to boost democratic ties in authoritarian region
Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, right, receives Japan's Emperor Naruhito during a welcoming ceremony at the Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Tuesday. Japan's Emperor Naruhito met with Mongolia's president Tuesday during a visit to the landlocked Asian nation that marks a step toward closer relations between the democracies in a region dominated by Russia and China. Naruhito met with President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh following a welcoming ceremony in the capital Ulaanbaatar on the second day of a weeklong visit. Japan has made a priority of boosting trade with the sprawling nation of 3.5 million, whose resources of coal, copper and other minerals are largely exported to China. 'President Khurelsukh emphasized that the state, government, and people of Mongolia deeply appreciate and are sincerely grateful for the unwavering and heartfelt support provided by the government and people of Japan in consolidating democracy, fostering sustainable social and economic development, and enhancing human resource capacity in Mongolia,' Mongolia's official Montsame news agency reported. Naruhito recalled with fondness his 2007 trip to Mongolia while still a crown prince and said he relished the chance to again 'experience and closely engage with the beautiful nature, history, culture, and traditions of the country and its people,' Montsame reported. In the afternoon, Naruhito and Empress Masako laid flowers at a cenotaph in honor of thousands of Japanese prisoners of World War II who were held under harsh conditions in the country. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. One of the first battles of the war was a clash in the summer of 1939 between invading Japanese troops and Soviet forces on the Mongolian frontier in which the Japanese were badly defeated. Japan and the Soviet Union later signed a mutual non-aggression treaty that was abrogated by the Soviets, who poured troops into Mongolia and northern China. In recent years, Naruhito has toured some of the places where the bloodiest battles and bombings of World War II occurred, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Hiroshima. The emperor has said it's part of his effort at atonement and remembrance of the tragedy of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. While the vast majority of Japanese prisoners of war were taken to Siberia, around 12,000 to 14,000 ended up in Mongolia, which by the war's end was fighting alongside Russia against Japan. For decades after the war, Mongolia was virtually a Soviet-armed camp trained by China, with most of its people pursuing their traditional herding lifestyle. Since throwing off Communist rule in 1989, Mongolia has built a resilient democracy, seeking to balance economic and political pressures from Beijing and Moscow with strong support from the U.S. and its allies in Asia, including Japan and South Korea. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Japan's Emperor Naruhito visits Mongolia amid growing democratic ties
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, July 8 (UPI) -- Japanese Emperor Naruhito attended a welcoming ceremony and met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh during his first official state visit to Mongolia on Tuesday, as the two democratic countries look to strengthen ties. Later in the afternoon, Naruhito visited a memorial for Japanese prisoners of war who died in Soviet internment camps in Mongolia. The emperor's weeklong visit comes as Mongolia -- a vibrant democracy of 3.5 million people -- seeks to chart an independent course between its two giant authoritarian neighbors, Russia and China. During their meeting, President Khurelsukh expressed gratitude to Naruhito for the "unwavering and heartfelt support provided by the government and people of Japan in consolidating democracy, fostering sustainable social and economic development and enhancing human resource capacity in Mongolia," government news agency Montsame reported. Landlocked Mongolia exports the overwhelming majority of its vast mineral resources to China, while relying on Russia for its energy needs. Almost all of Mongolia's petroleum supply comes from Russia, its traditional political and military ally dating back to the Soviet Union era. In recent years, Ulaanbaatar has increasingly sought a "third neighbor" policy to diversify its economic and diplomatic relationships with countries such as the United States, France, South Korea and Japan. "Because of the current geopolitical situation worldwide with Russia and China, Mongolia has to pursue this third neighbor policy even more actively," Munkh-Orgil Enebish, a senior analyst at Ulaanbaatar-based Arctus Analytics, told UPI. "The Japanese emperor's visit is a prime example of the policy of balancing against Russia and China." Japan has also prioritized its relationship with Mongolia, funding major infrastructure projects and expanding defense cooperation as Tokyo looks to strengthen a democratic foothold in the region. On Tuesday afternoon, Naruhito and Empress Masako laid a wreath at a monument commemorating thousands of Japanese prisoners of war held in Mongolia during World War II. Mongolia, which fought alongside the Soviet Union during the war, received around 14,000 Japanese prisoners from Siberia. Many were used as forced labor on construction projects for government buildings and a national theater, some of which are still in use today. Roughly 2,000 of the prisoners died, according to Japanese records. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The emperor has made a series of memorial tours in recent months to sites of fierce battles and devastation, including Iwo Jima and Hiroshima. "I think it is important not to forget those who died, to deepen our understanding of past history and to foster a love of peace," Naruhito said last week ahead of his Mongolia trip. "During this visit, I will be thinking about this history. I will offer flowers at the cenotaph for the Japanese dead and remember the hardships faced by those who unexpectedly died far from their hometowns." Later this week, Naruhito and Masako are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of Naadam, a traditional Mongolian festival centered around horse racing, wrestling and archery. Their visit will wrap up on June 13. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
5 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Japan's Emperor Naruhito visits Mongolia amid growing democratic ties
1 of 3 | Japanese Emperor Naruhito met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh during his first official state visit to Mongolia Tuesday. The flags of Mongolia and Japan were draped on the Government Palace in downtown Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, July 8 (UPI) -- Japanese Emperor Naruhito attended a welcoming ceremony and met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh during his first official state visit to Mongolia on Tuesday, as the two democratic countries look to strengthen ties. Later in the afternoon, Naruhito visited a memorial for Japanese prisoners of war who died in Soviet internment camps in Mongolia. The emperor's weeklong visit comes as Mongolia -- a vibrant democracy of 3.5 million people -- seeks to chart an independent course between its two giant authoritarian neighbors, Russia and China. During their meeting, President Khurelsukh expressed gratitude to Naruhito for the "unwavering and heartfelt support provided by the government and people of Japan in consolidating democracy, fostering sustainable social and economic development and enhancing human resource capacity in Mongolia," government news agency Montsame reported. Landlocked Mongolia exports the overwhelming majority of its vast mineral resources to China, while relying on Russia for its energy needs. Almost all of Mongolia's petroleum supply comes from Russia, its traditional political and military ally dating back to the Soviet Union era. In recent years, Ulaanbaatar has increasingly sought a "third neighbor" policy to diversify its economic and diplomatic relationships with countries such as the United States, France, South Korea and Japan. "Because of the current geopolitical situation worldwide with Russia and China, Mongolia has to pursue this third neighbor policy even more actively," Munkh-Orgil Enebish, a senior analyst at Ulaanbaatar-based Arctus Analytics, told UPI. "The Japanese emperor's visit is a prime example of the policy of balancing against Russia and China." Japan has also prioritized its relationship with Mongolia, funding major infrastructure projects and expanding defense cooperation as Tokyo looks to strengthen a democratic foothold in the region. On Tuesday afternoon, Naruhito and Empress Masako laid a wreath at a monument commemorating thousands of Japanese prisoners of war held in Mongolia during World War II. Mongolia, which fought alongside the Soviet Union during the war, received around 14,000 Japanese prisoners from Siberia. Many were used as forced labor on construction projects for government buildings and a national theater, some of which are still in use today. Roughly 2,000 of the prisoners died, according to Japanese records. Naruhito's visit marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The emperor has made a series of memorial tours in recent months to sites of fierce battles and devastation, including Iwo Jima and Hiroshima. "I think it is important not to forget those who died, to deepen our understanding of past history and to foster a love of peace," Naruhito said last week ahead of his Mongolia trip. "During this visit, I will be thinking about this history. I will offer flowers at the cenotaph for the Japanese dead and remember the hardships faced by those who unexpectedly died far from their hometowns." Later this week, Naruhito and Masako are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of Naadam, a traditional Mongolian festival centered around horse racing, wrestling and archery. Their visit will wrap up on June 13.
NHK
7 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Mongolia media give positive coverage of visit by Japan's Emperor, Empress
Mongolian media outlets have given positive coverage to the ongoing visit by Japan's Emperor and Empress. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako flew into Mongolia on Sunday. After being given a traditional Mongolian welcome, they moved to the capital, Ulaanbaatar. The Emperor's schedule for Monday includes a tour of a museum with exhibits on Mongolia's history and culture. He is also visiting a water supply facility being set up with Japan's support. The online edition of the Mongolian newspaper Udriin Sonin says this is the couple's first visit to the country as Emperor and Empress. The report says the state visit is historically significant in deepening the partnership between the two nations, which share democratic values. The report says it will also make a valuable contribution to strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation. The national news agency, Montsame, says the Emperor visited Mongolia when he was the crown prince. It says that during the state visit, he will meet Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh to discuss ways to deepen the friendly ties between their countries. The agency says the Emperor and Empress will also attend the opening ceremony of a national sports festival, called Naadam.
Kuwait Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Young Mongolians demand PM resign over corruption claims
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia: Hundreds of young Mongolians turned out this week in the country's capital calling for the prime minister's resignation on allegations of corruption, a longstanding source of deep public anger in the landlocked democracy. Mongolia has for decades struggled with endemic graft and the widespread view that the proceeds of a coal mining boom are being hoarded by a wealthy elite has sparked frequent protests and unrest. Under Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene—in power since 2021 -- Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Now fuelling public outrage are allegations that the prime minister's family are enjoying wealth far beyond that expectation of a civil servant on the public dime—claims sparked by a social media post by his son's girlfriend showing a lavish birthday gift. In a statement to AFP, the prime minister's office said it 'vehemently' denied allegations of impropriety, describing them as a 'smear'. But hundreds of mostly young protesters have gathered for eight consecutive days at the capital Ulaanbaatar's Sukhbaatar Square, also known as Genghis Khan square, demanding the premier's resignation. 'The prime minister has to resign,' protest organizer O Ulamsaikhan, 24, told AFP. 'What we are trying to achieve is to establish a new political culture in which unethical behavior by public officials leads to accountability and resignation,' he said. Also deepening anger in the country are worries over the economy and cost of living. Inflation, which soared following neighboring Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 -- reached nine percent last year, according to national news agency Montsame. 'Young people are working hard to make a living,' said university freshman O Khulan, 19, who counted among the crowd holding placards declaring 'it's easy to resign'. 'Yet it is unfair that the prime minister's son and his girlfriend have a lavish lifestyle, while I'm buying my bag from a thrift shop,' she said. 'The youth are the future of Mongolia, and we have to stand up for a better one. That's why I wanted to come to the protest and express my opinion,' she explained. Rejecting the charges, a spokesperson for the prime minister said he is 'on record that everyone must live equally before the law and be able to prove their income'. The spokesperson also pointed to efforts by his government to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and more equitably distribute proceeds from the country's vast natural resources. And counter protesters on the streets of Ulaanbaatar—overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts—said they supported the prime minister and were sceptical that his resignation would change anything. 'While young people are calling for the prime minister's resignation, it raises an important question: 'What then'?', D Magsarjav, 65, told AFP. 'I don't think there is a better candidate for the next prime minister,' he said. 'It is easy to criticize and call for resignation, but much harder to do the job and deliver results,' 63-year-old D. Oyunchimeg added. 'I support the Prime Minister, he has been fulfilling his duty,' she said. But protest organizer Ulamsaikhan vowed to push on with the rallies until Oyun-Erdene steps down. 'We will continue our protest until his resignation.' - AFP
