中文
By Sukhee Gombo
Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Batmunkh Battsetseg is visiting China on May 1-2 at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. The two foreign ministers will hold official talks and exchange views on strengthening Mongolia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and intensifying cooperation.
It has been 73 years since diplomatic relations were established with China on October 16, 1949. Developing friendly relations with China is Mongolia's top foreign policy orientation.
The main drivers of the Mongolia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership are trade and economic cooperation. Last year, trade between the two countries reached 10.1 billion dollars. China alone accounted for 89 percent of Mongolia's exports and 33 percent of its imports, both indicators ranking first. Mongolia exported 36 million tons of coal in 2019.
The foreign trade structure of Mongolia is dominated by mining products. China supported Mongolia's proposal to increase coal exports to 70 million tons per year. China consumes 4.3 billion tons of coal annually, of which 3.7 billion tons are supplied domestically and the remaining 611 million tons are imported from abroad. As of November 2022, Mongolia has exported 24.4 million tons of coal to China.
The Mongolian government sees China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a good opportunity. In the spring of 2014, after the launch of the BRI, it presented its "Steppe Road" plan to Beijing.
Aerial view of a China-funded overpass in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, September 16, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
Mongolia continues to work with China to extend the connection between the "Steppe Road" plan and the BRI, and between Mongolia's New Revival Policy and China's Global Development Initiative, thus creating an engine for development for our bilateral relations. China's development will benefit more neighboring countries including Mongolia and help achieve common development and prosperity globally.
During the academic year in 2021, the number of Mongolian students studying in Chinese universities has reached 11,000, with 220 students awarded Chinese government scholarships.
China-Mongolia bilateral relations have witnessed rapid and stable development in the last two decades thanks to concerted efforts exerted by both sides. This visit of Mongolia's foreign minister will give new impetus to the development of relations between Mongolia and China.
The foreign ministers will discuss the implementation of the medium-term program of trade and economic cooperation.
Due to the current global political and economic instability, prosperity faces numerous challenges. In order to overcome these difficulties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Security Initiative, calling on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in a spirit of solidarity, and address the complex and intertwined security challenges with a win-win mindset.
Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh emphasized that China and Mongolia are Asian countries and if they work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and worldwide by adhering to "Asian values," these challenges will be overcome. Therefore, we need to understand and support each other more and cooperate more closely.
Another significance of this visit is to develop and deepen regional cooperation and stabilize security. The visit is also aimed at expanding the scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Mongolia.
Professor Sukhee Gombo is an ex-officio expert of the Mongolian National Security Council. He obtained his PhD from the Military Academy of Saint-Petersburg, Russia. He has played an important role in Mongolia's diplomacy, international relations, security, geopolitics, education and research fields.
