Two volumes of a comprehensive Mongolian encyclopedia, the world's first, have recently been published by the Inner Mongolian People's Publishing House.
The two volumes are on Mongolian literature and medicine. The publishing of 18 more volumes will be completed by 2006, covering a large number of subjects including ancient Mongolian history, geography, cultural relics and archeology.
The encyclopedia will be published in both Mongolian and Chinese languages.
North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has appropriated5 million yuan (about US$602,410) for the publication of the encyclopedia, listed as one of China's key publishing and scientific research projects.
At present, study of the history and culture and scientific and technological development of Mongolians, an ethnic group that has greatly influenced the world, is carried out in more than 50 countries and regions in the world.
Mongolian studies have received funding from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2002)
