The YIIth International Scientific Conference on the Western Mongolia and bordering regions has just opened up in Kyzyl. It takes place every two years and is devoted to interdisciplinary studies in the zone. It was initiated by Mongolian scholars at the Hovd University in 1993. Two years ago the conference was held in Tomsk. This time Kyzyl hosts over 100 participants from Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Tuva, Sweden, Britain and Mongolia. Tomorrow the scientists will visit 'Arzhaan-2' archaelogical site and the Ubsu-Nur hollow.