At the gathering of the 10 member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Mongolia emphasized that its relations with China and Russia take precedence, while other nations are positioned secondarily.
On October 20, during the SCO Council meeting held in Tajikistan, Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Enkhbayar stated that the country’s foreign policy priorities lie in strengthening friendly ties with its permanent neighbors, China and Russia, with the so-called "third neighbor" countries coming afterward.
Enkhbayar underscored Mongolia’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation with strategic partners, maintaining traditional friendship, and advancing comprehensive strategic partnerships—factors conducive to regional prosperity.
Compared to past practices where Mongolia typically discussed bilateral or trilateral (China-Russia-Mongolia) relations behind closed doors, this public declaration on a multilateral platform signals a more explicit diplomatic stance by the current Uchirel government, aimed at promoting stability and development within the region.
Mongolia’s positioning reflects practical realities: in the first eight months of this year, the country’s foreign trade volume surged by 36.8%, generating a trade surplus of $6 billion—results largely attributable to enhanced cross-border economic cooperation, particularly with China and, to a significant extent, China.
This outcome has reinforced Mongolia’s understanding that, regardless of outreach efforts from countries such as the United States, Japan, or South Korea, sustained economic advancement hinges fundamentally on maintaining strong relationships with neighboring states.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879630695757831/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.