Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has underscored the strength of the "exemplary relations" between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar as both sides embrace the 75th anniversary of bilateral ties this year, saying that his country views China as "a trusted friend and partner".

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, the Mongolian leader said it has been encouraging for him to observe the growth of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in recent years.

"This growth has fostered a deepening of political trust, revitalized tangible cooperation, and strengthened people-to-people exchanges and friendship."

Mongolia was one of the first nations to have established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China after its founding in 1949.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral treaty on friendly relations and cooperation, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Mongolia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Oyun-Erdene said the primary focus for the two nations is on bolstering cooperation in pivotal sectors such as mineral resources, energy, infrastructure development and green development.

"Our dedication to expanding cooperation in these sectors and fostering mutual understanding underscores the strength of our enduring mutual support."

"Together, we are committed to advancing on the path of modern development, aiming for shared success, reinforcing our exemplary relations, and making significant contributions to regional and global peace, stability, and development," he continued.

Ties between the two nations have been built on the robust growth of bilateral trade, with China being Mongolia's largest trading partner and investor for many consecutive years.

In 2023, trade between China and Mongolia grew 36.1 percent year-on-year to reach a historic record of $17.49 billion, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The two sides have set a goal to increase the trade volume to $20 billion in the coming years, which was outlined in a medium-term program for developing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Mongolian prime minister has underlined the enhancement of transportation capacity and border port facilities as crucial for boosting bilateral trade.

The upgrading of current railway links between border ports of the two nations will be prioritized, and the two nations are working together to build another railway link between the border ports of the two nations.

"The enhancement of infrastructure, especially railways, is pivotal in boosting commodity exports. The governments of Mongolia and China are actively engaging in discussions at all levels to connect cross-border railways," he explained.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Mongolia, one of the 32 landlocked developing countries globally, "aims to leverage its strategic geographic location as a crossroads between Asia and Europe", Oyun-Erdene said.

"We believe that the Belt and Road Initiative, through its promotion of infrastructure, trade, and financial cooperation among participating nations, has the potential to create new avenues for collaboration and drive regional and global economic recovery and growth," he said.

For Mongolia, the BRI offers "an opportunity to mitigate, to some extent, the challenges associated with its landlocked geographical location, thereby facilitating foreign trade", he added.

During a visit to China in June 2023, the Mongolian prime minister met with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders, in addition to visiting the Tianjin port, where he discussed plans with its operators to use it to export the nation's energy resources to other countries.

In addition to the BRI, the Mongolian prime minister applauded the other major initiatives proposed by the Chinese president, including the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

"The idea of building a community with a shared future for humanity embodies a vision of global cooperation and mutual prosperity, aligning with the values of numerous countries," he said.

The initiatives "are essential in addressing the complex challenges we currently face, such as climate change, poverty, and security threats," he added.

With both China and Mongolia facing challenges from desertification and climate change, Oyun-Erdene highlighted the potential for stronger bilateral collaboration in shared response.

An assessment conducted last year found that 76.9 percent of Mongolia's territory has undergone degradation, underscoring the detrimental effects of climate change.

The two nations have already agreed to establish the Cooperation Center for Combating Desertification in Ulaanbaatar, a project that aims to carry out ecological development activities such as desertification prevention, vegetation rehabilitation and afforestation.

"We anticipate that this project will significantly contribute to enhancing our ability to adapt to climate change, mitigating the impacts of drought, and bolstering sustainable economic and social development," he said.

Mongolia also aims to collaborate with its partners, particularly China, to develop clean energy and implement flexible, innovative and sustainable solutions that integrate advanced technology and energy efficiency, he said.

Shi Futian contributed to this story.