Alexei Overchuk takes part in the first Forum of Regions of Russia and Mongolia
On December 1–2, 2025, Irkutsk hosts the first ever Forum of Regions of Russia and Mongolia, attended by more than 300 participants from 14 regions of both countries. Apart from panel discussions, the Forum includes a contacts stock exchange for business representatives, a joint expanded-format meeting of business councils on Russia-Mongolia cooperation, an exposition of businesses from border regions, and other events.
The official delegations are led by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Development of Mongolia Jadambyn Enkhbayar. Both officials opened the Forum’s plenary meeting.
In his remarks, Alexei Overchuk noted the growing dynamism of Russian-Mongolian bilateral and multilateral interaction, incentivised by regular meetings between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh.
According to Alexei Overchuk, Mongolia is an important trade partner for Russia. In 2024, bilateral trade surged by 17.8 percent. During the first nine months of 2025, trade grew by another 5 percent to $2 billion. The Eurasian Economic Union and Mongolia have signed a Provisional Trade Agreement embracing the main mutual trade items, which is due to boost trade and introduce better conditions for commodity producers. The Agreement is expected to create additional competitive advantages for the presence of Russian and Mongolian goods in the markets of both countries, provide new opportunities for Russian and Mongolian companies to increase their revenues, and improve commodity supply in the interests of consumers. The Agreement will also help to level out trade balance between Russia and Mongolia.
“The Mongolian companies are offered opportunities for duty-free trade in the EAEU market with its 200 million consumers. This is also important for us, because the Agreement will help to increase commodity supply in our market,” Alexei Overchuk said.
He also noted that apart from the Agreement’s focus on addressing the tariff issues, it was necessary to pay attention to non-tariff measures, unawareness of which prevented trans-border trade from developing. “I am referring to customs clearance, sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary control measures, as well as technical regulation standards. These are the areas where we are seeking to enhance interaction with the Government of Mongolia,” Alexei Overchuk said.
In addition to the noticeably grown dynamism of EAEU dialogue, Mr Overchuk stated that Russian-Mongolian bilateral ties were making headway. He commented favourably on the Russian Federation’s role in ensuring Mongolia’s energy security, based on an uninterrupted supply of oil and lubricants. Forum participants were invited to appreciate the two countries’ effort to strengthen transport connectivity in Northern Eurasia. “The Ulan Bator Railway Joint Stock Society can be characterised as a symbol of years-long friendship between our countries. It ensures an increase in freight traffic both bilaterally and in the Russia-Mongolia-China economic corridor,” he said.
During the Forum, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Ministry of the Economy and Development of Mongolia signed the Middle-Term Programme of Action for the Development of Inter-Regional Cooperation between Russia and Mongolia for the period from 2026 through 2030. It includes over 120 events in various areas of interaction between constituent entities of the Russian Federation and Mongolian aimaks. The Irkutsk Region, the Republic of Buryatia, and the Republic of Tuva signed a number of inter-regional cooperation agreements with their Mongolian counterparts.
Apart from the business programme, the Forum includes a number of events designed to strengthen cultural-humanitarian and civilisational connectivity of the two peoples. After the plenary meeting, the heads of the official delegations, Alexei Overchuk and Jadambyn Enkhbayar, laid flowers to the Eternal Flame of Glory memorial complex in Irkutsk, a gesture signifying a caring attitude that the Russian and Mongolian sides display towards efforts to preserve the memory of the trying wartime ordeals and common victories.
