Ulaanbaatar, June 25, 2025 /MONTSAME/. “Mongolia Forum 2025” took place under the theme “Northeast Asian Peaceful Development and Korean Unification” on June 20-24, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In 2018, non-governmental organizations and research institutes from Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America agreed to jointly organize the “Mongolia Forum” each year as a platform to discuss the matter of Northeast Asian Peaceful Development and Korean Unification. Mongolia is considered an ideal neutral location for such a forum, as it maintains friendly relations with its neighboring countries, has no territorial or border disputes, and is the only country in not only Northeast Asia but in the world that has politically affirmed its nuclear-weapon-free status. The Mongolia Forum participants discuss and share views on regional trade, economy, and environmental issues. However, for the last two years, the Forum has been working to provide support and preparation for the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Former Mongolian Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of “Blue Banner” NGO, Ambassador Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, remarked, “The Forum is expanding every year. Last year, we organized a horse-riding trip to bring youth closer to nature and the nomadic lifestyle. While in the past, participants of the Forum used to exchange perspectives on a particular topic, now we release a joint statement as an outcome of the Forum. This year’s Forum prioritized youth engagement and organized an ecological movement among over 20 young people from 19 countries. Additionally, the Forum highlights the “Billions of Trees” National Movement, initiated by the President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, and focuses on desertification issues. Participants shared views on how to organize and participate in COP17 to be held in Mongolia. The Forum will make a joint statement regarding these issues and formulate plans for 2026.”

Senior Scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy, Ambassador Robert G. Joseph, noted, “This is my first visit to Mongolia, and I have positive impressions about the success of Mongolia in establishing a stable democracy and neutral national security and foreign policy. Mongolia is active in promoting peace and stability in the region and globally, as well as efforts to improve the environment. Mongolia is also very active through the ‘Mongolia Forum’ in helping prepare the next generation of leaders to further contribute to the peace and stability of the nation. The only solution to the nuclear challenges is a peaceful, non-nuclear Korean Peninsula. This is important to the global non-proliferation regime.”

Strategic Advisor and Former International Vice President of the Global Peace Foundation, Mr. David Caprara, stated, “First, we want to commend President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and the great nation of Mongolia for hosting this Forum for the seventh year. We started with a tribute to the beautiful legacy of the Former President of Mongolia, Ochirbat Punsalmaa, as a peacebuilder in the world, who was a patron for the ‘Mongolia Forum’, together with his right-hand Ambassador Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan and the ‘Blue Banner’ NGO. We are forging partnerships out of this Forum. For instance, the United Nations Beijing was here today with a massive forestation model in Inner Mongolia. I believe the Forum brings a unique dimension of how COP17 can link environmental forestation models on the ground here. Also, we are bringing forestation models from Africa and Latin America to offer examples. In the environmental session, we are announcing a Memorandum of Agreement with the “My Club” Tree Planting Movement, which has planted 2 million trees, and the Global Peace Leadership Corps of young leaders. Yesterday, delegates, including ambassadors and scholars, planted trees together in Mongolia, which they can track throughout their lives through an online application. This way, we are part of COP17 through action. This year’s Forum is special because young leaders are being trained by experts, former ambassadors, and scholars, which is a marrying of technical expertise with the vision of young people. We are promoting action-oriented scholarship and dialogues that lead to more expansive multilateral frameworks with an end goal of seeing the crisis on the Korean Peninsula resolved through a new nation – the Korean dream.”

Retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel, Mr. David Maxwell, said, “The challenges, of course, lie in the fact that the Northeast Asian region is an area of one of the most concentrated military forces. So, miscalculation can be catastrophic. Whatever happens in Northeast Asia will have global consequences. Thus, when considering security issues, it is imperative to prevent miscalculation. And miscalculation can derive from misunderstanding. So, dialogues like the ‘Mongolia Forum’ are critical. It takes dialogue, understanding, and commitment to peace over conflict. I think it is achievable, but it will always be a work in progress. We must do everything we can through education, interpersonal contacts, government dialogues, and commitment to a peaceful world. And Mongolia admirably leads the way by being a mediator and a neutral facilitator that solely seeks peace.”