China engages Mongolia in flurry of talks in wake of US envoy Wendy Sherman
- Defence and foreign ministers of both countries meet and pledge further engagement
- Ulaanbaatar will remain cautious not to choose sides between Beijing and Washington, analyst says
China has been trying to forge closer ties with Mongolia, holding a series of high-level exchanges between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar in recent weeks as US engagement in the region grows.
Mongolia’s foreign ministry said China promised to invest in major mining, energy, agriculture, infrastructure and environment protection projects, with the aim of increasing bilateral trade to US$10 billion.
The two countries also said they would work together on pandemic control and regional security.
“Mongolia fully understands the important concerns China has over sensitive issues. Mongolia will continue with friendly policies with China, and will not participate in any mechanisms that target specific countries,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
The day before Sherman arrived in Mongolia, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
Xi said the countries shared an increasing number of common interests, and called for the China-Mongolia relationship to be strengthened by mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding a promise that China would buy more of its neighbour’s products.