Mongolia and China Greenlight New Cross-Border Railway

Mongolia’s parliament has officially approved a significant agreement with China to collaborate on building a new cross-border railway. This initiative aims to strengthen Mongolia’s ties with its southern neighbor, especially in light of the trade tensions between the United States and China during President Donald Trump’s administration.

The railway, spanning 19.5 kilometers (12.1 miles), is set to enhance Mongolia’s capacity for exporting coal to China. The project faced delays for over a decade, but it has seen renewed progress in recent months.

Earlier this year, Gantumur Luvsannyam, Mongolia’s first deputy prime minister, emphasized in an interview that the agreement with China was “a top priority on the agenda.” He stated, “Construction work will start this year and it’s slated for completion in 2027,” mentioning that coal terminals on both sides will also be finished by that time.

This development is part of China’s broader strategy to expand its regional railway network, strengthening connections with neighboring countries.

In addition to this project, China is also constructing a 523km railway linking to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the west, along with planning high-speed train routes to Vietnam and Thailand in the south.