Mongolian lifestyle images on display

Mongolian ambassador Bassanjav Ganbold

By Kang Hyun-kyung

The Embassy of Mongolia in Seoul hosted a photo exhibition featuring the country’s pristine nature, nomadic lifestyle and traditional and modern cultures in 70 quality images at the Korea Foundation (KF) Gallery in Seoul.

Ambassador Bassanjav Ganbold said that his embassy in collaboration with the KF had prepared the Mongolian lifestyle showcase to raise Koreans’ awareness of the country on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with South Korea.

During the opening remarks on March 18 at the gallery, the envoy called Korea a third neighbor.

“We proudly note that our third neighbor Korea has become one of our major trading and economic partners in the region,” he said.

With the terminology of third neighbor, Ambassador Ganbold seemed to refer to Korea as his country’s third most important country, following Russia and China.

In recent decades, Mongolia has sought to diversify its diplomatic and trade relations with other near countries, such as South Korea and Japan.

Mongolia established diplomatic relations with North Korea before its diplomatic relations with the South were set up in March 1990.

“Because of Mongolia’s recent rapid economic growth, the number of Korean and other nationals visiting our country and doing business continues to increase as does the demand from them for information about it,” he said.

The Mongolian economy had achieved double-digit growth in the 2000s. Recently its growth rate experienced a slowdown but is still high compared with other nations.

The Mongolian envoy said the photo exhibition, titled “Wind from the Steppes,” was prepared for the duel celebration of the diplomatic anniversary as well as the 25th anniversary of Mongolia’s democratic transition.

“The exhibition displays some pictures from the 1990s when Mongolia was experiencing a dramatic reform (as part of transition from a communist state to democracy),” Ganbold said.

“I’m convinced that the photo exhibition will enhance knowledge and information about Mongolia among the Korean public and it will also make an important contribution to the strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding of the people of the two countries.”

Foreign diplomats, including five ambassadors, Korean government officials and business executives of energy companies attended the opening ceremony. The exhibition will continue until March 28.