MONGOLIA PARTICIPATES IN ITB EXHIBITION

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia took part in the annual ITB Exhibition which was mounted March 9-13 in Berlin, Germany, as a partner-country of convention and culture. It has attracted 188 countries.
The Mongolian side has mounted its exhibits in three sections in the Cultural Center of Berlin, the Museum of History and other common places. Many events such as a concert of “Arga bileg” group, a photo exhibition and a national dresses show have been organized, the Mongolian representatives have taken part in a consultation run on trends of tourism development and urgent problems facing environment.
In the first day of the exhibition, the state secretary of Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology met with L.Gansukh, the Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia. The same day, the Mongolian Minister delivered a speech representing countries of cultural partner. He has pointed out that the history and culture of Mongolia is one of the inseparable parts of the world cultural heritage, adding Mongolia announced the tourism sector as priority of the economic development.
The Mongolian delegation have organized a measure named “Mongolian forum” during the exhibition bringing together some 500 delegates such as Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and chairman of the Polish delegation, and Taleb Rifai, the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The latter has thankfully received an invitation to visit Mongolia from Mr. Gansukh, and promised to do so within this year.
On the second day of the exhibition, a Minister Summit on Climate Change in Asia-Pacific: Environmental Protection from Sea Level up to 8,000m has been co-organized by ministers of three countries--Mongolia, Maldives and Nepal. They have discussed wide-range issues on responsibilities of the world community.
During the event, Mr. Gansukh met Mr. Dirk Niebel, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, in the central hall of the exhibition. They have underlined an importance of Mongolia's participation in the exhibition as a partner of culture, and shared views on the connection between the environment protection and tourism sector in Mongolia.
At the exhibition, an outstanding scholar on environment Hans Knapp has been awarded with the North Star Order pursuant to a decree of the President of Mongolia for initiating and realizing many projects and programs in the environment of Mongolia.
B.Khuder