ULAN BATOR, Sept.22 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of annual orienteering marathon was held here on Saturday.

The marathon was co-organized by the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, the Physical Culture and Sports Authority of Mongolia, and Grand China Sports Limited.

"The marathon is being held under the framework of the development of sports relations between Mongolia and China," Enebish Munkhbileg, head of the Physical Culture and Sports Policy Department at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports of Mongolia, said at the opening ceremony of the event.

"In 2019, Mongolia and China are set to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We will organize more events to further expand bilateral relations between the two countries in sports sector," he said.

A total of some 4,000 runners, including more than 80 people from China, South Korea and Japan competed in four different aged categories in the marathon, namely the 14-17 age group, the 18-34 age group, couples aged between 35-54, and seniors aged above 55 years, and completed interesting tasks given by the organizers.

Awards to the winners in the four categories of the marathon were travel coupons across China.