Reference Message Network reported on April 9 according to a report on the Hong Kong South China Morning Post website on April 8, the Mongolian State Great Khural (parliament) recently approved an agreement with China to jointly construct a new cross-border railway between the two countries. At the time when US President Trump launched a tariff war, Mongolia hoped to establish closer ties with its southern neighbor China. This 19.5-kilometer railway will enable Mongolia to increase coal exports to China. The construction of this project had been stalled for over a decade but has recently gained new momentum in the past few months. The report stated that First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, Lubang Sumya, said earlier this year that the intergovernmental agreement with China was "one of the top projects on the government's agenda." He said, "Construction work will begin this year and be completed by 2027." By then, coal transport centers on both sides will also be built. This move is the latest step in China's series of efforts to build a pan-regional railway network to strengthen relations with neighboring countries. The report pointed out that China is also constructing a railway about 523 kilometers long extending westward to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan; simultaneously building high-speed railways in the south connecting Vietnam and Thailand. Lubang Sumya stated that due to the slow development of Mongolia's railway industry and some misunderstandings about daily railway operations, the above-mentioned Gashun Suhaitu-Ganqimadu cross-border railway project had previously been delayed. However, Mongolia now seems to be prioritizing the promotion of this new line as it seeks to strengthen its economic independence through increased coal exports. Guest researcher at the Institute of International Issues of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Sumiya Churenbatel, said that this project will increase "trade" between Mongolia and China, which "can be seen as a step towards economic stability." He pointed out, "Against the backdrop of Trump's protectionist policies potentially disrupting global trade, this cross-border railway agreement appears to be Mongolia's strategic initiative to support its economic development, especially by strengthening trade with China." Official data showed that last year, Mongolia exported a total of 83.7 million tons of coal. After the operation of the above cross-border railway, it is expected to increase Mongolia's coal transportation capacity by 30 million tons, enabling Mongolia to maintain an economic growth rate of more than 6%. Prime Minister of Mongolia, Rob Sang Naslay Oyun Erdene, said in an official statement, "Approval of this agreement shows unanimous support for the project among all members of parliament." The statement said, "This partnership is unlocking valuable export and investment opportunities, opening up Mongolia's natural resources to attract new investments into the country." Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491148097658176000/ Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.