thesilkroadtoday
Ambassador Byambadorj Meets Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid in Cairo
Cairo — 10 September 2026
A new chapter in the cultural and literary dialogue between Egypt and Mongolia was opened today at the Embassy of Mongolia in Cairo, where H.E. Mr. Donijchimbuu Byambadorj, Ambassador of Mongolia to Egypt, received Egyptian writer, poet and journalist Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, following his recent cultural and literary visit to Mongolia.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Dr. Aboul-Yazid’s recent journey through Mongolia, undertaken in connection with the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great Mongolian writer and poet D. Natsagdorj, as well as his encounters with Mongolian writers, poets, cultural figures and institutions.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation for Dr. Aboul-Yazid’s writings on Mongolia, particularly his travel literature documenting the country’s landscapes, cultural heritage, poetry and people. He noted with interest the literary perspective through which Aboul-Yazid has presented Mongolia to Arab readers, bringing the country closer to the cultural imagination of the Arab world.
Dr. Aboul-Yazid, known for his long-standing work promoting literary and cultural encounters along the Silk Road, spoke about his recent experiences in Mongolia and his efforts to transform travel into literature — recording not merely places visited, but the memory, poetry and human stories encountered along the journey.
The discussions also addressed future possibilities for Egyptian-Mongolian cultural and literary cooperation, including publishing projects, literary translation, exchanges between writers and cultural institutions, and initiatives designed to strengthen knowledge of Mongolian literature in the Arab world.
Among the ideas discussed was the publication in Arabic of the celebrated poem “My Homeland” (Minii Nutag) by the great Mongolian poet D. Natsagdorj, a work deeply associated with Mongolian identity, landscape and national memory. The project would contribute to introducing one of Mongolia’s most significant poetic voices to Arabic-speaking readers.
The meeting also looked ahead to an important milestone in bilateral relations: the forthcoming celebration of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Mongolia.
The anniversary, which represents more than six decades of friendship between the two countries, offers an important occasion to celebrate not only diplomatic ties, but also the human, cultural and literary bridges that have developed between the peoples of Egypt and Mongolia.
For Dr. Aboul-Yazid, the meeting at the Mongolian Embassy in Cairo was a continuation of a journey that began with his recent arrival in Mongolia and continues through literature, translation and cultural dialogue.
“A journey ends geographically, but continues in literature,” is a principle that has long characterized Aboul-Yazid’s Silk Road literary work. His Mongolia experience now appears set to continue through new translation and publishing initiatives, carrying Mongolian poetry and cultural memory toward new readers in Egypt and the wider Arab world.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared conviction that literature can serve as a bridge between nations, allowing diplomatic friendship to acquire another dimension — one built through poetry, books, translation and the enduring human memory of travel.
