ULAN BATOR, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The annual national literacy festival kicked off in Mongolia on Friday with the aim of encouraging people to learn the traditional Mongolian script and promoting their mother tongue.

"The mother tongue and national script are a guarantee of independence of any country. Therefore, we all must protect our mother tongue and national script and learn them well," Mongolian Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports Yondonperenlei Baatarbileg said at the launching ceremony.

The festival encourages especially children and youth to learn the traditional Mongolian script and promote their mother tongue education, the minister said.

The festival co-organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, the National Library, the National Council on Language Policy, the National University of Mongolia and other relevant institutions will last until next Wednesday.

During the festival, more than 120 activities, including academic conferences on Mongolian language and studies, competitions relating to traditional Mongolian script, literature and language, and book exhibitions, will be held across the country.

The Asian country has been holding the festival annually since 2003.