During the period of 18–23 October 2012, Prof. GUAN KaiYun, deputy director of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XIEG) led a delegation of XIEG visited the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS) and the research institutes, including Institute of Geography and Ecology, Institute of Geography, Institute of Botany and Institute of Biology.

Prof. GUAN KaiYun introduced the discipline construction, training mechanism of master and doctor students and international cooperation of XIEG to the researchers from MAS. He hoped that the two sides could strengthen cooperation to promote the talent exchange and gradually establish a multi-discipline cooperation relationship. During the period, the researchers from the two sides made the discussion on the plant taxonomy, eco-environment and desertification control, information science, grassland degradation monitoring and land management. Meanwhile, XIEG and MAS reached a cooperation intention in some research fields and directions.