Mongolia and Egypt Pledge Continuity Between UNCCD COP17 and COP18
Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, president-designate of UNCCD COP17, spoke by telephone with Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam on August 12. They agreed to cooperate on dialogue and practical outcomes at the Ulaanbaatar conference, particularly on the links among water, drought and land degradation. Battsetseg also congratulated Egypt on its forthcoming role as host of COP18. Both sides emphasized continuity between the two conferences and coordination to advance implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification amid connected pressures from land degradation, water scarcity, drought and climate change.
M-International Editorial DeskUpdated August 13, 2026
Mongolia's Foreign Minister and UNCCD COP17 president-designate Battsetseg Batmunkh held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam on August 12. Sewilam will head Egypt's delegation to COP17 in Ulaanbaatar.
The ministers discussed cooperation to support effective negotiations and practical decisions on water, drought and land degradation. Battsetseg noted Egypt's role in helping parties bridge differences and reach consensus under the Convention. She also congratulated Egypt on its forthcoming hosting of COP18. The two sides said continuity between the Ulaanbaatar and Egypt conferences would be important for addressing the connected challenges of water, land, drought and climate change.