NEW YEAR ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT KHALTMAAGIIN BATTULGA
On the New Year’s Eve, President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga extended greetings to the citizens of Mongolia in a televised message.
The President said:
Fellow countrymen, the bearers of the spirit of the Mongol Empire in this time,
Ethnic Mongolian groups dispersed around the world,
I extend my greetings upon the golden moment when the outgoing 2019 is succeeded by the incoming 2020!
The New Year’s is the most exciting celebration for we review our accomplishments and failures and envision our success and well-being in the future.
Just a year ago, I, as the president of this country, called for making 2019 “A Year for Reform”, and I am sure it is fresh in your memories.
I would like to stress here that the president, the chairman of the State Great Khural, and the prime minister of Mongolia were unified under a common stance and prioritized the core interests of our country above political interests while working towards achieving the goal to bring about a reform and justice.
Although it is not possible to fully restructure the turbulent times stemming from the social transition of 30 years in 365 days, 2019 was a year of reform, a historic year when the foundations of the rise of Mongolia in modern times were established.
The economic growth of Mongolia reached 6.3 percent in 2019, which is five times higher than that of 2016, ushering in economic stability.
The Constitutional Amendment, which has been on agenda for the last couple of decades, was ratified at last. I am confident that this amendment will reaffirm the independence of Mongolia, define the goal for the Mongolian people to be in possession of the mineral wealth, set forward the basis for our developmental policy and stability in government, and ensure the system of checks and balances for accountable governance.
A government decision has been taken on securing the interests of Mongolia in the exploitation of the Oyu Tolgoi deposit. The full transfer of the ownership of the Erdenet Mining Corporation to the state has resulted in the accumulation of over a trillion tugriks in the local and state budget for the first time.
Tavantolgoi JSC remains in state ownership. It has developed into the largest national company by revenue, and the railway works that were staggering for many years have been intensified, bringing a new tide in the economic policy.
Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces are taking an active part in the railway infrastructure development works, successfully reviving a conviction within the Mongolian people that “we can do it ourselves.”
The foreign relations of Mongolia have advanced to a new level. The implementation of large-scale international projects of strategic importance, including the developments at the new airport and the oil refinery is successfully underway.
The levels of air pollution in the capital city have been reduced, the thick fog that hovered over the institutions of law and the judiciary has been lifted, a breeze of justice has been blowing, and a civil society of citizen oversight has gained new a wave of strength.
2020 will be a year when all of us look back on the achievements and failures of the last 30 years of democratic system, identify our vision and long-term developmental policy for the next 30 years, and reinforce what we have started, and a year of great infrastructure development.
There is no today without yesterday, and no tomorrow without today. At this moment, I am pleased to announce a decision made by the members of the National Security Council on a full and one-time repayment of all pension loans by means of boosting the economic activities of the Salkhit silver mine, with the purpose of relieving the elders who dedicated their lives for the development and prosperity of Mongolia of their debt pressure.
May the state be stable
And the people at peace.