As we reported in our previous issue before, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, L.Munkhbaatar met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China and the third-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party on January 25. Zhao Leji expressed willingness to work with Mongolia to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, firmly grasp the development direction of Mongolia-China bilateral relations, safeguard the political foundation of diplomatic relations, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly cope with regional and global challenges, and foster the continuous development of Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Deputy Speaker, L.Munkhbaatar said that Mongolia-China relations serve as a model for the development of state-to-state relations. He further mentioned that within the framework of trade and economic cooperation, it is imperative to increase the capacity of the border ports, intensify the construction of the port railway connecting the two countries, and to activate the cooperation in the direction of strengthening the legal basis. For example, L.Munkhbaatar reiterated that as a result of the agreement on “Mongolia-China Border Railway” established in 1955, attention was paid to advancing cooperation in the railway sector between the two countries. 

Also, within the framework of the 2004 Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Mongolia-China border ports, the parties reached a joint agreement on the construction of the Hangi-Mandal cross-border railway. As part of the effort to increase the trade of non-mining products, proposals were made to create a legal framework for the mutual exchange of animals, plants, raw materials and goods through the ports of Khavirga-Arkhashaat, Bayankhoshuu-Uvdug in the eastern region and Bulgan-Takashiken in the western region. In addition, L.Munkhbaatar expressed his willingness to cooperate more in the development of the green and digital economy based on achievements in the areas of innovation, artificial intelligence, and technology.

In response, China's NPC expressed its willingness to maintain close and friendly exchanges with Mongolia's Parliament, ensure the success of the meeting of the Mongolia-China legislative exchange mechanism, deepen the exchange of legislative experience in ecological and environmental protection and other fields, provide legal guarantee for practical cooperation between the two countries, and help build Mongolia-China community with a shared future. The fifth meeting of the Mongolian-Chinese legislative exchange mechanism was successfully held during the Deputy Speaker’s visit to China.