Ulaanbaatar
Prime Minister Meets Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, February 4, 2026 /MONTSAME/. Prime Minister of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav met with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Yasmine Fouad, on February 3, 2026.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar briefed Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad on the progress of preparations to host the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), scheduled for Mongolia from August 17 to 28, 2026. He noted that the Government of Mongolia is working closely with the Convention Secretariat and relevant partners to ensure the successful organization of the conference.
He also emphasized that, at Mongolia's initiative, the United Nations has proclaimed 2026 as the “International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists,” which aligns closely with the agenda, objectives, and expected outcomes of COP17.
Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad expressed her appreciation for Mongolia’s active and responsible efforts in preparing for COP17 as the host country. She affirmed that the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the Convention Secretariat will provide full policy and organizational support to ensure the successful convening of the conference and reaffirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation with the Government of Mongolia.
