Ulaanbaatar, September 1, 2023 /MONTSAME/. As the New Academic Year of 2023-2024 began, the first class taught at all secondary schools was a video talk by President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on Kharkhorin, once the capital of the world. At the beginning of his talk, the President of Mongolia addressed all school children, students, teachers, educators, and parents as well:

Dear schoolchildren and students,

Dear teachers and educators,

Dear parents!

I would like to congratulate you with the start of the New Academic Year!

Since ancient times, we – Mongolians and our ancestors, cherishing the freedom of mind, spirit, and knowledge, have been teaching and educating our children to "learn skills through diligence".

The Emperor Chinggis Khaan, after founding the Great Mongol State, proclaimed, "Before establishing a state a hero is needed, after its establishment a wise teacher is required”, and invited scholars and learned men from afar and near, irrespective of their status and origin, to serve the state and public.

In the capital of the Great Mongol State, Kharkhorin, which was established by the Great Khaan in 1220, temples and churches of different religions coexisted harmoniously, scholars gathered and debated their wisdom and knowledge under the patronage of Mongolian Khaans.

The Ambassador of King Louis of France Guillaume de Rubruck appraisingly wrote about the City of Kharkhorin as a multicultural world city with palaces and administrative facilities, embassies of many countries, marketplaces, handicrafts, and manufacturing sites.

In addition to Kharkhorin, in 2004, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the Orkhon River Valley, where the capital cities of ancient nomads as Luut, the capital of the Khunnu Empire and Khar Balgas of the Uighur Khanate were rising, as cultural heritages of the humanity and registered them on the World Heritage List.

On December 20, 2022, the President of Mongolia issued a Decree on the Reconstruction of Kharkhorin, the capital of the Great Mongol State and Mongol Empire, in order to consolidate the valuable inheritance of the state etiquette, preserve its history and culture, reduce population density, and ensure balanced regional development.

Would you please now take your time and enjoy the lesson prepared on the topic of "Kharkhorin, the Capital of the World" for the opening of the New Academic Year.

Dear children and youth, the future of our Homeland, dear teachers, educators, and dear parents, I congratulate you on the New Academic Year and wish you great success in your studies and work!

Let the Mongol mind and wisdom ever prosper!

May Mongolia flourish under the Power of Eternal Heaven!