OnMarch 31, 2021, Chairman of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia, Mr.G.Zandanshatar, held an online meeting with the Chairperson of the StandingCommittee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic ofChina (PRC), Mr. Li Zhanshu.

FromMongolian side, the meeting was attended by the Vice-Chairman of the StateGreat Hural, Chair of Executive Committee of the Mongolian Parliamentary Group,Head of the Mongolia-China Parliamentary Group (MCPG), Chair of the Mongoliandelegation of the Mongolia-China Inter-Parliamentary Regular Meeting MechanismMr. T.Ayursaikan; MP, Chair of the Committee on Security and Foreign Policy,Member of MCPG, Mr. B.Battumur; MP, Head of MCPG Mr. L.Munkhbaatar and othermembers of the State Great Hural and Depute Heads of MCPG Mr. Sh.Adishaa, Ms.Kh.Bulgantuya, Mr. B.Delgersaikhan. The meeting was also attended by Ministerfor Foreign Affairs Ms. B.Battsetseg; Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of Mongolia to the People’s Republic of China Mr. T.Badral,Governor of the Bank of Mongolia Mr. B.Lkhagvasuren, Director of theParliamentary Research Institute at the State Great Hural Ms. T.Bayarmaa.

FromChinese side, the meeting was attended by the Vice-Chairperson of the StandingCommittee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Chair of the Chinesedelegation of the China-Mongolia Inter-Parliamentary Regular Meeting MechanismMr. Baima Chilin; Member of the Standing Committee of the NPC,Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the NPC Mr. Yang Zhenwu; Chairof the National Committee of the NPC, Head of the China-Mongolia Friendship GroupMr. Bai Chunli; Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC Mr. ZhangYesui; Director of the Research Office of the Secretariat of the StandingCommittee of the NPC Mr. Sun Rui; Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of thePeople’s Republic of China, Mr. Luo Zhaohui; and other officials.

Atthe beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of the State Great Hural, Mr.G.Zandanshatar congratulated China on successfully holding the 13th NationalPeople's Congress of the People’s Republic of China, and the 4th Session of theChinese People's Political Consultative Conference and for making importantdecisions on China’s advancing of social and economic development. He alsostressed that the development of good-neighborly relations and mutuallybeneficial cooperation with China on the long run is one of the priorities ofMongolia's foreign policy.

TheChairman mentioned that “In recent years, Mongolian-Chinese relations andcooperation have been developing to a great extent in all field of areas, andhave been significantly enriched as a result.” He continued that in order toexpand cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries, he proposedthat regular meetings and exchange of experiences between the State Great Huralof Mongolia and the NPC leadership, the Standing Committees, ParliamentaryFriendship Groups, Secretariats of the two countries may be held with respectto the Regular Meeting Mechanisms of the two countries. He further stressed thesignificance of commencing the cooperation between the Research Units of theSecretariats of the two legislatures. The two sides are discussing throughdiplomatic channels, the possibility of a visit by the leaders of the twocountries' legislatures this year. The Chairman expressed readiness for thevisits at a mutually appropriate time, given the circumstances of the pandemic. 

Healso mentioned of the Parliament’s support for the development of a Memorandumof Understanding between the two governments on the development of theinitiatives of “Steppe Road” and “Belt and Road” and a special plan for theimplementation of the Memorandum.

TheChairman noted, “I am pleased that China is providing close assistance toMongolia in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and is working closely toensure that the strength and scope of bilateral trade and economic cooperationdoes not diminish. In particular, I would like to express my sincere gratitudefor providing vaccine grant aid, which is in great demand around the world, aswell as for its commercial purchase. Authorities on both sides are preparingfor the delivery of the first shipment of vaccines bought through commercialchannels on April 2, 2021. I hope you may support the delivery of the next600,000 doses of vaccines by April 9, 2021.”

Healso expressed the significance of the ports of the two countries, the role inwhich they play in the enrichment and deepening of bilateral trade and economiccooperation, especially in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry,transportation and infrastructure, and the increasing of transit traffic. Inthis regard Mr. G.Zandanshatar extended his wishes for the support in theprompt normalization of operational irregularities of certain ports that havebeen pending in recent days.

Chairpersonof the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Mr. Li Zhanshucongratulated the Chairman of the State Great Hural Mr. G.Zandanshatar on hisre-election as the eighth Speaker of the Parliament and stressed thedevelopment of bilateral relations and cooperation. 

Thetwo sides agreed to intensify cooperation between the two countries'legislatures and work together to facilitate the dialogue of the two leadersinto establishing concrete operations. The two sides agreed that there is greatpotential for further deepening trade and economic cooperation between the twocountries. Legislatures need to work hard to achieve the goal of increasingcurrent bilateral trade volumes to 10 billion USD as early as possible. So asto achieve this, it is necessary to harmonize the "Steppe Road" and"Regions and Roads" goals and develop cross-border cooperationbetween the two countries. 

Aseternal neighbors of this world, the two countries have been developing theirfriendly relations. During this demanding period of the pandemic, the Presidentof Mongolia Mr. Kh.Battulga visited China, donated 30,000 sheep and extendedemotional assistance to China. This has become an example of the friendlycooperation between our two countries. Legislative cooperation is an importantcomponent of the Mongolia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In hisspeech, Mr. Li Zhanshu noted that inter-parliamentary cooperation plays animportant role in deepening bilateral political trust and understanding andstrengthening the legal framework for cooperation. 

Duringthe meeting, the parties exchanged views on changing the terms of the generalagreement on the “National Currency Swap Agreement” between the Bank ofMongolia and the People's Bank of China and instead extending it to along-term, soft loan between the two governments.