ULAN BATOR, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Thursday celebrated National Blood Donation Day, which was first marked in 2009.

"The day is aimed at thanking the blood donors and calling for more blood donation to ensure a reliable supply of safe blood for those who are in urgent need," said Namjil Erdenebayar, general director of the National Center for Transfusion Medicine.

With a 70 percent increase over the past five years, there are now 18 blood donors per every 1,000 inhabitants of Mongolia. The Asian country has set a goal to increase the number to 25 in the next five to eight years, Erdenebayar said.