Foreign minister requests China to improve port operations and shipment
Last week, Minister of Foreign Relations B.Battsetseg had a telephone conversation with China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and exchanged views in detail on the international situation and issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations and cooperation, reopening of border checkpoints and boosting trade.
During the telephone conversation, Minister B.Battsetseg touched upon certain issues such as increasing the exports and imports through Mongolia-China border checkpoints, improving infection control regimes, reopening border checkpoints in phases, normalizing freight flow, promptly delivering containers that have accumulated at the Tianjin port to Mongolia, and using other potential seaports to resolve logistics matters.
She said that the Mongolian side looks forward to giving full play to the “green lanes” between Mongolia and China to further improve port operation capacity and shipment, and effectively curb negative impacts caused by the spillover of the Ukraine crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wang expressed that he understands that the border operation is a priority issue for Mongolia and noted that China attaches great importance to the policy for revival of border ports set out in the New Revival Policy being implemented in Mongolia.
He added that the Chinese government is working to ensure the normal operation of border crossings and increase imports in addition to putting effort to resume operations of some border checkpoints that were suspended due to the pandemic and intensify the construction work at border checkpoints.
Specifically, construction works at Sekhee and Laoemyao border checkpoints are being carried out successfully for commissioning this year. The Chinese side also said that Mongolia’s further improvement of the infection control regime at border ports would be a main condition for undisrupted freight shipment.
The Chinese foreign minister highlighted that China is willing to work with Mongolia to speed up the construction of the China-Russia-Mongolia Economic Corridor and promote the connectivity of railway lines between China and Mongolia.
Wang added that China will continue to provide Mongolia with anti-epidemic materials and equipment, support the country’s efforts in pandemic prevention and control and ensure smooth border operations.
Foreign ministers noted that ensuring the normal operations of border checkpoints plays important role in bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed their commitment to work closely to enhance the operation of border checkpoints.
The two sides agreed to continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, security and development interests, avoiding external interference and promoting healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.