Ulaanbaatar, January 15, 2026 /MONTSAME/. A joint roundtable meeting between the representatives from Mongolian government agencies and Chinese-invested enterprises was held on January 9, 2026, at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI). The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between government organizations and Chinese-invested enterprises.

The President of the MNCCI, Lkhagvajav Baatarjav, stated: “As of today, bilateral trade turnover between Mongolia and China has reached USD16.5 billion, accounting for approximately 80 percent of Mongolia’s total foreign trade. Over the last decade, this volume has grown from USD 1 billion to USD 16 billion - a direct result of bilateral cooperation.”

“At today’s roundtable, we exchanged views on mining, construction, agriculture, and the food industry with representatives from government organizations and Chinese-invested companies. Discrepancies in the calculation and reporting of mineral royalties have been a long-standing issue. This has created a situation where not only foreign investors but also Mongolian enterprises are facing significant tax debt. Furthermore, Mongolia’s strict labor regulations and requirements pose challenges for the recruitment of highly skilled foreign specialists. During the upcoming Spring Session, Parliament is set to deliberate on a major package of laws aimed at improving the investment and business environment. Currently, over one thousand Chinese companies are investing and operating in Mongolia. The current global situation shows how vital the country to maintain active and open business relations with its neighboring countries.”

Commercial and Economic Counselor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mongolia, Liu Jingzhi, said: “The mining sector holds the most significant position in the economic cooperation between our two nations. This is clearly evidenced by the steady growth in bilateral trade and investment within this industry. However, we have also seen tangible progress in other areas, such as agriculture. Both governments need to intensify policy coordination and actively develop relations between state institutions. While strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, Mongolia needs to make its tax system more transparent and stable, improve the legal environment for labor relations and workforce protection, and enhance the overall business climate. If these reforms are implemented, I believe the trade volume between China and Mongolia will continue to grow, further expanding our economic cooperation.”

Director of "Mergen Tour" LLC, Enkhtur T., noted: “We attach great importance to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China General Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia today. We believe this MoU will provide genuine support to enterprises. Mongolia’s economy remains overly concentrated on mining exports. Beyond mining, there is great potential to export agricultural raw materials and products. We hope for concrete support in this direction. Diversifying exports and establishing a sustainable supply of livestock products to the Chinese market is a top priority. This is not just about business profit; it is about increasing the income of herders and contributing to the rural economy. Our company produces and exports light industrial goods, such as small leather products. We face specific challenges and difficulties when bringing these to foreign markets. Regarding exports, China’s import customs duties are relatively high. While our average customs duty is 5 percent, it stands at 17 percent on the Chinese side. We intend to explore potential solutions and opportunities to reduce these tariffs.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from 230 Mongolian companies and 60 Chinese companies, who discussed practical cooperation opportunities and business partnerships.