Chinese Ambassador Shen Minjuan handed over funds and goods in aid to Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene on Monday for fighting extreme wintry weather.

“Our two countries have always helped each other in the face of disasters,” Mr Shen said at a handover ceremony in the State Palace of Mongolia.

He added, “China is ready to provide more support and assistance to Mongolia.”

This winter, Mongolia has been hit by a severe dzud, a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when many livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered by snow.

A dzud is an extreme weather event with temperatures dropping to -30 °C or lower, with strong winds, heavy snow, and ice.

Expressing his sincere appreciation to China, Oyun-Erdene said the country had taken the lead in extending a helping hand and standing once again as a model of a good neighbour.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“I hope the two countries and bilateral relations enjoy leapfrog development and that the two peoples share happiness and prosperity,” said Mr Oyun-Erdene.

As Mongolia has seen much more snow than usual this winter, over 80 per cent of its territory has so far been blanketed with snow up to 100 cm thick, the country’s weather monitoring agency said.

About three million heads of livestock have so far perished across Mongolia due to the dzud, according to the state emergency commission.

(Xinhua/NAN)