The 11th International Mongolian Studies Conference was successfully held on January 27-28, 2017 at the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC and the Library of Congress.
Over 80 Mongolists from the United States, People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, former U.S. ambassadors to Mongolia and Mongolians reside in the United States participated in the conference, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the United States. Moreover, with the very first live broadcasting of the conference on internet, many Mongolians and those who are interested in Mongolian studies worldwide, were able to watch conference’s panels online.
Ambassador Altangerel Bulgaa, Ms.Susan Thornton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of State , Dr.Saruul-Erdene Myagmar, President of Mongolian Cultural Center gave opening remarks. Ambassador Altangerel Bulgaa stated in his remark that “Not only has the three decades long cooperation broadened in many areas, including politics,commerce, defense, education and culture but also in mutual support on international arena which satisfies me”. He also demonstrated that “This conference has been playing an essential role in promoting Mongolian rich history, language, culture and traditions throughout the United States as well as deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples”.
The first day of the conference touched a theme “Mongolia and United States relations”. Presentations on “30 years of United States-Mongolia Relations-Trends” by Dr.Alicia Campi, “The Significance of Mongolia’s Third Neighbor Foreign Policy” by Dr.Bolor Lkhaajav (University of San Francisco) and “Contributions of Buddhist Monks for the Mongolia-United States Relations” by Mr.Luvsanjamts Davaanyam (Gandantegchilen Monastery) were made at the Embassy of Mongolia. The conference was continuously organized at the Library of Congress where Ambassador Altangerel Bulgaa gave a comprehensive speech on “Mongolia and United States Relations in 30 Years”, while Professor John W.Williams from Principia College delivered the keynote speech on “The First Draft of History Has a Poor Memory: The Dilowa Khutugtu in American Journalism”.
During the second panel of the conference held on January 28, topics such as Mongolian history, archeology, Mongolian community in the United States, philology were discussed. “Exploring the Significance of Values-Based Leadership Development in Mongolian Higher Education” by Ms.Alimaa Jamiyansuren (Pelegrine Academic Services), “Category of Unpleasantness’ in Mongolian Language” by Dr.Saruul-Erdene Myagmar (Mongolian Cultural Center), “The Use of Information by Mongolians in the United States” by Dr.Ya.Borchuluun, “Between Communist Doctrine and Nationalist Agendas: Writing Reform in Inner Mongolia, 1954-1980” by Dr.Anran Wang (Cornell University), “Ts.Damdinsuren and Mongolian Literature Studies in the 20th Century” by Dr.Wang Hao (Peking University), “The Buryat Literature in the Context of Literary Process in the Beginning of the XXI Century” by Dr.Larisa Khalkharova (Buryat State University), “A Tomb in Bayannuur” by Dr.Nancy Steinhardt (University of Pennsylvania), “New Scenes from the Xiongnu Times: The Khawtsgait Petroglyphs” by Dr.Christopher Atwood (University of Pennsylvania) and “Erdenetogtokh and Some Research on Modern Mongolian Language” by Dr.Khishigtogtokh (National Central University of China) were the presentions discussed and draw huge attention of the participants.
The Mongolian Cultural Centre, which is a non-profit organization, established in 2007, has been promoting Mongolian language, culture in the United States and developing Mongolian studies through its activities such as organizing the annual Mongolian Studies Conference, involving Mongolian researchers in international conference, providing U.S. schools and institutes with Mongolian cultural lectures in English, organizing Mongolian band concerts, conducting Mongolian language summer camp school.