'No Need to Build New Walls'

ByAlexandra Leyton Espinoza (Sweden) October 7, 2013
Dash Oyunchimeg, wife of Tsedenjav Sukhbaatar, Mongolia's ambassador to China [Women of China English Monthly/Zhang Jiamin]

China's Great Wall was constructed thousands of years ago primarily to protect the country from northern invaders including Mongolians. Today, China is the Mongolian People's Republic's largest trading partner, and its biggest source of foreign investment. Dash Oyunchimeg, wife of Tsedenjav Sukhbaatar, Mongolia's ambassador to China, is proud of the strong Sino-Mongolian ties. "There is no need to build new walls," she says, with a smile.

Oyunchimeg moved to China at the beginning of this year, even though her husband was posted to the country three years ago. As the deputy director-general of the Organization of Customs in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, she continued to work in her home country after her husband's appointment. It wasn't until a change in Mongolia's government that she moved to China to assume her responsibilities as the ambassador's spouse. Even so, she was no stranger to China.

"I have had many opportunities to visit the country. I always felt like I knew China. But, once I moved here, I noticed I still had so much more to explore. I was astonished by the vast development, and by the pulse of the city of Beijing. When I lived in Mongolia, I tried to (fulfill) my duties as the ambassador's spouse, by holding activities and events at our embassy in Beijing. Beijing International Society, which is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to share, explore and understand Chinese culture, has held many of their activities at the Mongolian embassy," Oyunchimeg says.

Mongolian women are known for their strength, both physically and mentally, says Oyunchimeg. "Most Mongolians are nomadic, so their lives are very hard. They have to survive very harsh conditions … (Mongolian women) are the backbone of the family, and of the country. But, I believe this is the same in any society," Oyunchimeg says.

China currently is Mongolia's largest trading partner, and its number one source of foreign investment. "(It is) also important to remain close as a people. That, in turn, helps to enhance the relationship, not only as a strategic partnership," Oyunchimeg says.

"We focus on diplomacy … on all levels of society. (We try) to inform (Chinese) about our country and our customs. I feel very optimistic about the future; the relationship has only strengthened. Most Mongolian students choose China when they want to study abroad. That's a good step toward getting to know your neighbor better. Some people might think they know China since, in this era of on-line content, we have access to much information. But reading about a country is one thing, and seeing and exploring it for yourself is another thing. We have a Mongolian proverb that says it is "better to visit once, than to hear about it 1,000 times," Oyunchimeg says.

"The language is one of my difficulties. I thought before that I would never master it. Then, I saw how my three sons have embraced it. Now, I believe that it's never too late to learn a new language, even if it's very difficult.

"Domog Folk Band, from Monglolia, won the Grand Prix of Golden Orpheus this year, which is a gold medal certificate of 'Absolute World Champion of Folklore.' This will be one of the key performances promoted by the Mongolian embassy in China later this year. But Mongolia is also known for its green landscape and untouched nature. The Mongolian embassy is working hard to attract tourists. One way has been by building golf courses.

"Golf is becoming a very popular sport in Mongolia. Due to our vast territory, we have the ideal land for it, and land prices are not that high. The embassy is organizing a golf tournament at the end of October in Tianjin, and we have invited golfers from Mongolia … I believe people from urban areas want to experience nature when they are tired of the city. They want to get back to nature. Mongolian meat can be distinguished from others, as the herds are not farmed, but instead walk the land to graze. The meat is very tender and flavorsome," Oyunchimeg says.

"I also try to promote China to my fellow Mongolians. In my role as the ambassador's spouse, I get opportunities to travel to many beautiful places. My latest trip was to Yichun, in Heilongjiang Province. However, many of my native Mongolians prefer Hainan as a travel destination," she says.

China has left a lasting impression on Oyunchimeng during her time spent visiting and living in the country. She says she shares the Chinese philosophy of not losing your culture, but instead practicing it on a daily basis.

"When I visit parks, I see the elderly practicing tai chi, and I see women and men singing folk music. It's wonderful to see. I tell my children that they should never forget their heritage; yet, that they should see how other people live, and how their lives become enriched at so many different levels by being open-minded and understanding … I am very glad China has given my children this opportunity," Oyunchimeg says.

(Source: Women of China English Monthly October 2013 Issue)

 

32.3K

Please understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: website@womenofchina.cn. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.


Comments

Home