The 6th Strategic Dialogue between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the People's Republic of China was held virtually on December 23. The virtual meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia B.Munkhjin and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wu Jianghao.

The sides expressed pleasure that bilateral relations are progressing amid the pandemic, emphasizing that the heads of state, parliament speakers, and the prime ministers of the two countries had phone conversations and made high-level visits in 2021, and agreed to organize high-level visits and meetings next year.

The deputy foreign ministers underscored that trade and economic cooperation has grown compared to last year and that there has been a noticeable increase in trade between the two countries. Moreover, they exchanged views at length on keeping trade and economic cooperation as smooth as possible during the pandemic, especially on intensifying border checkpoint activities and increasing the entry rate of goods.

The Mongolian side put forth proposals to promptly resume freight transport across Zamiin-Uud-Erenhot border checkpoint, ensure normal rail transport, restore export of non-mining products, intensify the activities of Shiveekhuren-Sekhee and Bichigt-Zuunkhatavch border checkpoints, raise entry rate of goods through Gashuunsikhait-Gantsmod and Khangi-Mandal border checkpoints, and enable transport of goods that require special permits through Gashuusukhait-Gantsmod, Shiveekhuren-Sekhee, Bulgan-Takashiken, Bichigt-Zuunkhatavch, and Khangi-Mandal border checkpoints. The Chinese side acknowledged the proposals and undertook to take action, stressing the importance of improving infection control measures and reducing the risk of cross-border transmission in increasing the entry rate of goods.

Deputy Minister B.Munkhjin thanked the Chinese side for its support to Mongolia’s pandemic efforts as well as the assistance of vaccines and other products.

The sides agreed to study the feasibility of easing travel restrictions in light of the pandemic situation.

They also discussed regional and international issues of shared interest and affirmed their willingness to further strengthen cooperation within regional and multilateral mechanisms.

The Strategic Dialogue is organized annually between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs at a Deputy-Ministerial level to review the development of bilateral relations and discuss short-term goals and major events, and regional and international cooperation.