The 14th Dalai Lama is paying a state visit to Mongolia, from November 18 to 23, to share his wisdom and conduct spiritual readings and rituals with Mongolian monks. Mongolia and Tibet share deep historic and religious ties, and today the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and 1989 Nobel peace prize winner is arriving in Mongolia for the ninth time. A spokesperson from Gandantegchinlen Monastery, S.Davaapurev, emphasized during a press conference yesterday that the Dalai Lama is visiting Mongolia purely for religious reasons, and that he doesn’t have any political agenda, just like his previous visits. Offering details about the visit’s itinerary, S.Davaapurev informed reporters, “The Dalai Lama will arrive on [November 18], after finishing his visit to Japan. On Saturday, His Holiness will make a public appearance outside of the Temple of Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara at Gandantegchinlen Monastery, from 1:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. The Dalai Lama will conduct a spiritual reading at UB Palace from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, and participate in the International Conference on Science and Buddhism taking place at Central Cultural Palace from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Mongolian Agricultural University will present an honorary doctorate to His Holiness next Tuesday.” S.Davaapurev added that changes might be made to the schedule, depending on the Dalai Lama’s health. The spiritual leader celebrated his 81st birthday on July 6.