A Mongolian team led by Minister for Education, Culture and Science Yo.Otgonbayar was in Beijing recently to hold talks on how to avoid conflicts in asking for UNESCO heritage status for cultural practices that are common to both countries. The two countries agreed to consult each othe before submitting a claim to UNESCO. Chinese Vice-Minister for Culture Jao Shao Hua stressed that bilateral relations must not be damaged because of misunderstanding. A working group led by him will be established in China to work on the matter.

The issue came to the fore recently when UNESCO accepted China’s claim to register khuumii as that country’s cultural heritage. Mongolia was upset because throat singing has been part of its culture for long. After Mongolia’s protest, UNESCO explained to Otgonbayar that it is common for more than one country to develop a same cultural heritage, and all such countries can lay claim to it being registered by UNESCO under its name.

Indeed, khuumii has been a part of life not only in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia of China but in many other places, such as the Russian republics of Tuva, Khalimata and Buriyat. Tuva also boasts of a World Khuumii Center.

China spends an average of USD54,000  on preparing one claim while the figure for Mongolai is USD6,600. Since the khuumii matter, the Government has budgeted about USD66,000 to prepare the case to have 10 cultural heritages registered by UNESCO.

The Beijing talks also agreed to establish a culture center, prevent sale of antiques, and recognize each other’s education diplomas.