JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday sent separate cables of congratulations to Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on the occasion of his country’s National Day, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
King Salman wished President Khurelsukh continued good health and happiness, and expressed hopes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and people of Mongolia.
In a separate message, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as prime minister, conveyed similar wishes for the Mongolian president’s well-being and for the country’s continued development and prosperity.
Mongolia marks its National Day during the annual Naadam Festival, the country’s biggest national celebration, held from July 11 to July 15. The festival commemorates the 1921 People’s Revolution, which paved the way for Mongolia’s independence and the establishment of its modern sovereign state.
While the event was officially known as “Revolution Day” during the communist era, it has evolved into a nationwide celebration of Mongolia’s independence, resilience and cultural identity.
The festival is renowned for displays of the country’s traditional “Three Manly Games” — wrestling, horse racing and archery — customs whose origins date back to the time of Genghis Khan, when they served as military training exercises and celebrations of victory.
This year’s observances are particularly significant, marking the 2,235th anniversary of Mongolian statehood, the 820th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, and the 105th anniversary of the People’s Revolution.
Mongolia, a landlocked nation in East Asia with a population of about 3.5 million, is among the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign states despite being the world’s 18th-largest country by land area.
