Signing of the Host Country Agreement with Mongolia for UNCCD COP17: Speech by Ibrahim Thiaw

与蒙古国签署《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会东道国协定：易卜拉欣・蒂奥致辞

Your Excellency Minister Odontuya Saldan, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia,

尊敬的蒙古国环境与气候变化部部长 奥敦图娅・萨尔丹阁下

Your Excellency Mr. Mandakhbileg Birvaa, Ambassador of Mongolia to Germany

尊敬的蒙古国驻德国大使 比尔瓦・曼达赫比勒格阁下

Your Excellency Ms. Chimguundari Navaan-Yunden,

尊敬的纳万・云登・钦贡达里女士阁下

Ambassador at large for UNCCD COP17

联合国防治荒漠化公约第十七次缔约方大会特使

Dear Colleagues,

尊敬的各位同仁

I am honored to receive you here today, in Bonn, to sign the Host Country Agreement of UNCCD COP 17, to be held in 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

今天，我荣幸地与各位相聚波恩，共同签署将于 2026 年在蒙古国乌兰巴托举办的《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会东道国协定。

Signing this agreement more than a year ahead of COP is a remarkable achievement in itself.

在缔约方大会召开前一年多便签署此协定，这本身就是一项卓越的成就。

I can attest that this is a clear sign of strong commitment from the top leadership of the country.

我可以作证，这无疑彰显了蒙古国高层领导对此项事业的坚定决心。

No doubt that UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar will be splendid!

毫无疑问，这场将于乌兰巴托举办的《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会必将精彩纷呈！

Dear colleagues,

尊敬的各位同仁

You will be pleased to know that the people of Mongolia are known for their great hospitality, deeply rooted in nomadic traditions. In fact, it is said that in Mongolia, hospitality is a moral duty. Visitors have open invitation, without needing prior notice.

各位同仁或许会欣喜地了解到，蒙古国人民素以热情好客著称，这份品质深深植根于他们的游牧传统之中。事实上，在蒙古国，热情好客被视作一项道德义务 —— 来客可随时登门拜访，无需提前告知。

Remarkably, we have the same tradition in my home country, Mauritania.

值得一提的是，在我的祖国毛里塔尼亚，也有着同样的待客传统。

Significant to their nomadic traditions, guests are offered, as a sign of respect, airag (a traditional drink made of fermented horse milk) or milk tea (suutei tsai) or boiled meat: dairy and meat are offered to guests, because they are most prestigious.

在蒙古国的游牧传统中，待客之道意义非凡 —— 主人会奉上酸马奶、奶茶或手把肉以表敬意。奶食与肉食是款待宾客的上品，因其在当地文化中最为尊贵。

Again, a similar feature in Mauritania, visitors are offered a drink made of fermented milk.

无独有偶，在毛里塔尼亚也有类似的习俗 —— 待客时，人们同样会奉上一杯发酵乳饮品。

Respectful seating arrangements matter too, as visitors are offered to be on the North side of the ger (a traditional home), the North being the most honored spot.

待客时的座次安排同样讲究礼数 —— 主人会请宾客坐在蒙古包北侧，这是当地最为尊贵的位置。

Mongolia, the second-largest landlocked country in the world, has the particularity of having up to 27 more animals than humans.

蒙古国是世界第二大内陆国，其一大特色便是境内牲畜数量远超人口，牲畜总量比人口数多出 2700 万头之多。

This shows how much livestock represent for the economy, the stability and the prosperity of the country.

这一点足以彰显，畜牧业对于蒙古国的经济发展、社会稳定与国家繁荣而言，有着何等重要的意义。

Another similar feature with Mauritania where the livestock population exceeds the human population!

这一点与毛里塔尼亚又有着相似之处 —— 该国的牲畜数量同样超过了人口总数！

Mongolia’s vast landscapes are defined by its expansive steppes, rugged mountains, and the critical role of its rangelands in supporting both nature and human livelihoods.

蒙古国广袤的国土之上，辽阔的草原与雄浑的山地连绵纵横，而广袤的牧场更在维系自然生态与人类生计方面，发挥着至关重要的作用。

At the heart of this ecosystem is the Mongolian horse, a hardy and adaptable breed, central to the nomadic way of life. Horses hold deep cultural, historical and practical significance for the people of Mongolia.

这一生态系统的核心物种便是蒙古马。这种马品种强健耐饲、适应性极强，是游牧生活方式的核心支柱。对蒙古国人民而言，马匹承载着深厚的文化内涵、历史价值与实用意义。

Remarkably, horses outnumber humans in Mongolia by a ratio of 1.5, underscoring the significant importance of these animals in culture and daily life.

值得一提的是，蒙古国的马匹数量与人口数量的比例高达 1.5:1，这一数据足以凸显马匹在当地文化与日常生活中的非凡地位。

These horses are more than a symbol of the enduring connection between the Mongolian people and their environment.

对蒙古国人民而言，这些马匹绝不仅仅是他们与自然环境之间深厚联结的象征。

This brief overview reveals the deep connections between rangelands and livestock with the culture, the way of life and the economy of not only the pastoralists but the entire nation.

这一简要概述足以揭示，草原牧场与牲畜养殖不仅关乎游牧群体的文化传统、生活方式与经济来源，更与整个国家的发展命脉有着密不可分的深层联结。

Ladies and gentlemen,

女士们先生们，

Land degradation is not a mirage. Land restoration is not a slogan for a fancy international conference.

土地退化绝非虚言幻象，土地修复更不是装点国际会议的空泛口号。

For those who have no other capital, no other source of income than the land they live in and the ecosystems that it sustains, land loss may be the equivalent to a massive economic depression.

对于那些除了赖以生存的土地及其滋养的生态系统之外，便再无其他资本与收入来源的群体而言，土地的丧失无异于一场严重的经济衰退。

To a pastoralist or to a small farmer, drought or bushfire may have the same impact as a terrible earthquake or volcano.

对于游牧民与小农户而言，干旱或山火所带来的冲击，不亚于一场毁灭性的地震或火山喷发。

For the pastoralists of Mongolia and elsewhere, as fertile grasslands give way to barren deserts and sand dunes, herders face dwindling resources for their livestock, threatening their traditional way of life.

对于蒙古国及世界其他地区的游牧群体而言，当丰茂草原日渐退化为贫瘠荒漠与沙丘之时，牧民们赖以饲养牲畜的资源日趋枯竭，其世代传承的传统生活方式也因此岌岌可危。

Sand and dust storms, which have become more frequent and severe, are a visible manifestation of this environmental crisis. These storms lead to loss of top fertile soil; they have far-reaching impacts, affecting air quality, reduced carbon sequestration, human health, and even triggering conflict.

日益频繁且加剧的沙尘暴，正是这场环境危机的显性表征。此类风暴不仅导致肥沃表土流失，更产生深远影响 —— 既破坏空气质量、削弱固碳能力、危害人类健康，甚至可能诱发冲突。

While these issues have brought global attention to Mongolia’s environmental challenges, this visibility has also opened doors for international cooperation and investment in sustainable solutions. Initiatives to restore degraded rangelands, stabilize sand dunes, and combat land loss are gaining momentum.

尽管这些问题已引发国际社会对蒙古国环境挑战的广泛关注，但这种关注度也为该国带来了机遇 —— 为可持续解决方案的国际合作与资金投入敞开了大门。当下，退化草原修复、沙丘固定以及土地流失治理等相关行动的推进势头正持续增强。

Programs that promote sustainable grazing practices, such as rotational grazing and community-based land management, are helping to revive grasslands and improve soil health. These efforts are creating new opportunities for eco-friendly livelihoods, such as eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture.

以轮牧模式、社区土地管理为代表的可持续放牧推广计划，正助力草原生态焕新、土壤质量改善。这些治理举措更催生了生态旅游、可持续农业等绿色生计新路径，为当地发展注入全新活力。

They are empowering local communities to take an active role in preserving their environment while improving their economic prospects.

这些举措正赋能地方社区，使其在积极参与生态环境保护的同时，切实改善自身的经济发展前景。

Mongolia’s unique combination of traditional knowledge and modern innovation offers a promising path forward – and one which we are proud will feature UNCCD’s COP17 in 2026.

蒙古国将传统智慧与现代创新有机融合的独特模式，为未来发展指明了一条前景光明的道路 —— 而这一模式也将闪耀亮相 2026 年《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会，我们对此深感自豪。

As Mongolia works to restore its degraded lands and manage its rangelands, the country is not only preserving a way of life but also paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future.

蒙古国在着力推进退化土地修复与草原牧场治理的进程中，不仅是在守护其世代传承的生活方式，更在为构建一个更为可持续、更为繁荣的未来奠定坚实根基。

Mongolia is setting an example, by creating a model for balancing ecological restoration with economic growth – this is Mongolia’s legacy. This journey highlights the potential for turning environmental challenges into opportunities for resilience, innovation, and global leadership, and we at UNCCD are proud to be a part of this beautiful chapter.

蒙古国正树立典范，打造出一套生态修复与经济增长协同并进的发展模式 —— 这便是蒙古国将留存的宝贵财富。这一征程充分彰显了化环境挑战为韧性培育、创新发展与全球引领机遇的巨大潜力，作为《联合国防治荒漠化公约》秘书处，我们很荣幸能参与谱写这一华彩篇章。

Madam Minister, Excellencies,

部长阁下，各位贵宾：

As I conclude, I am reminded of the discussions I had in my various meetings with President Khürelsükh, with regards the multiple similarities between Mongolia and Mauritania:

值此致辞即将收尾之际，我回想起在与呼日勒苏赫总统的数次会面中，我们曾探讨过蒙古国与毛里塔尼亚两国间存在的诸多共通之处。

Total area : 1 million km2, each

两国国土面积相当，均约为 100 万平方公里。

Large deserts (Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world; and Gobi, the largest desert in Asia);

两国均坐拥广袤荒漠 —— 毛里塔尼亚濒临全球最大的热带沙漠撒哈拉沙漠，蒙古国则屹立着亚洲最大的沙漠戈壁沙漠。

Relatively small-size population (3, 4 or 5 M people)

两国人口规模亦相近，均仅为三四百万左右。

-Relatively large-size livestock (more horses in Mongolia and more camels in Mauritania)

两国均拥有规模可观的牲畜种群 —— 蒙古国以马匹数量见长，毛里塔尼亚则以骆驼存栏量为特色。

Resource rich (especially mining) but relatively small industrial bases,

两国均为资源富集之国，尤其在矿产领域储量颇丰，但工业基础相对薄弱。

The two countries were admitted the same day to the United Nations on 26 October 1961

两国于 1961 年 10 月 26 日在同一天加入联合国。

This is just to say that by hosting COP17 in 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will host close to 200 Parties, thousands of members of civil society, scientists and International Organisations. A unique opportunity to share experience, adopt relevant policies and above all open new avenues for cooperation and the much needed solidarity across nations.

之所以列举上述诸多共性，正是想说明，2026 年乌兰巴托承办《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七次缔约方大会，将迎来近 200 个缔约方、数千名民间社会代表、科研学者与国际组织人士齐聚一堂。这不仅是一次分享经验、议定相关政策的宝贵契机，更是为各国拓展合作渠道、凝聚迫切需要的国际共识与团结力量，开辟全新路径的重要平台。

Thank you.

谢谢大家。