Mongolia is interested in participating in the important initiatives to establish an economic corridor linking China and Russia. This will help boost  and regional economic development. For this reason, a Mongolian delegation led by B.Tsoggerel, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transportation is currently visiting Beijing in order to discuss rail freight transit from China to Russia via Mongolia. Originally planned for November, this important visit was postponed by Beijing in protest over the Dalai Lama’s visit to Ulaanbaatar. All now appears to be forgiven as China welcomed this Mongolian delegation.

There are two basic routes which Beijing has been considering for ramping up rail-freight with Europe: The first uses the old Trans Manchurian Railway, which links China and Russia at the Manzhouli border crossing to the east of Mongolia. The second route runs directly across Mongolia and is up to four days quicker. The Russian Federation, therefore, has been keen to involve Mongolia in the rail freight transit initiative with China.