Alexei Overchuk takes part in the Second Forum of Regions of Russia and Mongolia
The Second Forum of Regions of Russia and Mongolia is being held in Ulaanbaatar on 14–15 September. Launched in 2025, the forum aims at strengthening economic ties between the regions and business communities of the two countries. This year’s event has brought together more than 220 representatives of government bodies, the business community and expert circles from 14 regions of Russia and Mongolia.
The forum’s agenda focuses on improving transport connectivity across Eurasia, strengthening the role of regional authorities in the development of the Eurasian transport corridors, implementing the Provisional Trade Agreement to create a common Eurasian tourism space. On the sidelines of the forum, a meeting was held of the Subcommission on Regional and Cross-Border Cooperation and Tourism Development under the Russia-Mongolia Intergovernmental Commission. The programme also included a joint meeting of the two countries’ business councils and a business matchmaking session. The forum is expected to conclude with the signing of cooperation agreements between Russian and Mongolian regions, as well as a number of commercial contracts.
The official delegations were led by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Development of Mongolia Jadambyn Enkhbayar, who opened the forum’s plenary session.
In his remarks, Alexei Overchuk noted that Mongolia is an important trading partner for Russia, both as a market in its own right and as a transit country, as well as a historically close neighbour.
Bilateral trade continues to grow steadily. In 2025, it increased by 4 percent to $2.69 billion, while in the first half of 2026 it rose by 18 percent to $1.58 billion. The Provisional Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union member states and Mongolia, which entered into force on 22 July 2026, is expected to provide further impetus to bilateral trade. The agreement has opened duty-free access to the EAEU’s common market of 190 million consumers for all products of particular export interest to Mongolia, primarily wool, cashmere, leather and meat.
In his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister paid particular attention to non-tariff regulation of bilateral trade, including technical regulations, sanitary and veterinary controls, and customs procedures. He welcomed the first meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Provisional Trade Agreement, which was held on the sidelines of the forum and addressed the full range of issues related to the operation of the free trade regime.
Alexei Overchuk noted that Russia-Mongolia cooperation is developing dynamically across all sectors. Russia continues to supply Mongolia with fuel and lubricants, while the Ulaanbaatar Railway Joint-Stock Company is setting new records for freight traffic, contributing to growing cargo flows both in bilateral trade and along the Russia-Mongolia-China economic corridor.
Tourism has become an important driver of trade, economic and humanitarian ties between the two countries. Mutual tourist flows have reached nearly 500,000 trips, with around 95 percent of journeys made by road. Together with Mongolian partners and airlines, plans are being developed to expand air services between Russian and Mongolian cities, including the possible resumption of direct flights between Moscow and Ulaanbaatar. Further efforts to promote tourism include the development of joint travel routes under the Great Tea Road project, which 19 Russian regions are ready to implement in their territories.
Turning to humanitarian cooperation, Alexei Overchuk said that the Russian Government had allocated 620 state-funded university places for Mongolian students for the 2026/2027 academic year. The Russian side also looks forward to reciprocal steps by the Mongolian leadership to strengthen Russian-language teaching in the country’s secondary schools and improve its effectiveness, including through support for Russian-Mongolian schools in Ulaanbaatar.
Interregional cooperation has gained significant momentum, with more than 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation now maintaining trade and economic ties with Mongolia. This cooperation is facilitated by the two countries’ 3,485-kilometre border, one of the longest continuous land borders in the world. The first Interregional Forum, held in Irkutsk in 2025, laid the groundwork for systematic cooperation. Its outcomes included the signing of a medium-term action programme for developing interregional cooperation for 2026–2030, cooperation agreements between individual regions, and a number of commercial documents.
In addition to cooperation between border regions, the Deputy Prime Minister cited the Bryansk Region as a successful example of interregional ties. The Bryansk Machine-Building Plant has supplied shunting locomotives to the Ulaanbaatar Railway, whose locomotive fleet now includes more than 20 Bryansk-made units. Last November, a Russian mainline locomotive hauled a record freight train of 108 cars along the railway. The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the contribution of Empress Catherine II St Petersburg Mining University, which trains engineering specialists for Mongolia.
In the first nine months of 2026 alone, Russian and Mongolian regions held nearly 30 joint events. “It is important that these events produce tangible results and help create better conditions for Russian and Mongolian producers to access each other’s markets,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“I hope that today’s discussions will result in new practical steps towards the comprehensive development of Russia-Mongolia relations. The Russian side is committed to further strengthening cooperation with Mongolia in all areas of mutual interest, based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each other’s interests,” Alexei Overchuk said.
