On May 21, 2024, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs N. Ankhbayar received Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, during his visit to Mongolia.

State Secretary N. Ankhbayar highlighted  that relevant authorities have been diligently preparing to host the 17th Conference of the Parties of the Convention (COP17), presenting both ongoing efforts and future measures to be implemented.

Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Thiaw expressed gratitude to Mongolia for prioritizing the organization of COP17 in 2026. He emphasized that COP17 will be a crucial platform for addressing issues related to desertification and land degradation, reaffirmed the Secretariat of the Convention’s commitment to providing comprehensive support.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Combating Desertification, scheduled for 2026 in Mongolia, will be organized and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The COP Preparatory Office, which will handle  all preparatory and organizational matters, will operate under the Ministry’s oversight.