From October 7 to 11, Batsukh Saranchimeg, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia, led a 14-people delegation to visit Ningxia, aiming to implement the consensus reached by the Chinese and Mongolian leaders on preventing and controlling desertification and to strengthen sub-national exchanges between the two countries and practical cooperation in agriculture, medical care, education and trade. Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, and Zhang Liwei, Deputy Director-General of Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, accompanied the delegation throughout their visit.

At the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Party Secretary Hao Yinju introduced the achievements and experience of the hospital in medical services, discipline building, scientific research and teaching. The delegation was highly impressed by the hospital’s advanced facilities and equipment, and vibrant cultural ambiance, and wished that the two sides could establish a contact and cooperation mechanism, and carry out academic exchanges for the common benefit of the people of China and Mongolia.

During their visit to Shapotou National Nature Reserve, the delegation witnessed the process of creating straw checkerboards. They learned about Ningxia’s achievements and experience in combating desertification. Batsukh Saranchimeg expressed her appreciation for Ningxia’s successful desertification control and prevention measures and recognized local people’s determination and their techniques, from which Mongolia could learn. She hoped that the two sides could deepen the exchanges and cooperation in ecological conservation and contribute to the cooperation in desertification prevention and control between China and Mongolia.

The delegation also visited Qizitang (Ningxia) Health Industry Company, Kaisheng Haofeng (Yinchuan) Industrial Park for Smart Protected Agriculture, Yuanshi Vineyard, and Ningxia Saishang Dairy Co., Ltd. During the visits, they gained insights into the development of the six emerging industries, six specialty agricultural industries, and six priority industries of Ningxia, including goji, wine, modern agriculture and the dairy industry. Batsukh Saranchimeg expressed her hope for deeper cooperation between the two sides through enhanced exchange of experience and technology sharing in dairy industry and modern agriculture. She also emphasized the importance of actively promoting the implementation of specific projects to achieve mutual benefits and practical cooperation.

The delegation also toured the Minning New Image Exhibition Center, China (Ningxia)-Mongolia Bulk Commodity Cross-Border Direct Trading Platform, and Ningxia College of Construction, where they gained a comprehensive understanding of Ningxia’s efforts in rural revitalization and poverty alleviation. They engaged in extensive discussions with officials from relevant departments about enhancing cross-border trade and fostering cooperation in higher education and other areas. The College of Technology in Dundgobi Province of Mongolia and Ningxia College of Construction reached a preliminary intention on carrying out inter-school cooperation.

Going forward, the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office is committed to implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Mongolia. It will actively coordinate foreign resources, enhance people-to-people connections, and strive to further advance practical exchanges and cooperation between Ningxia and Mongolia in economy and trade, agriculture, education, international friendship city relations, and desertification control, making more contribution to the steady progress of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Mongolia.