# China–Mongolia relations

China–Mongolia relations (Chinese: 中国—蒙古国关系, Mongolian: Монгол-Хятадын харилцаа) refer to the bilateral relations between Mongolia and China. These relations have long been determined by the relations between China and the Soviet Union, Mongolia's other neighbour and main ally until early 1990. With the rapprochement between the USSR and China in the late 1980s, Chinese-Mongolian relations also began to improve. Since the 1990s, China has become Mongolia's biggest trading partner, and a number of Chinese businesses operate in Mongolia.

## Country comparison

| Common name | China | Mongolia |
| Official name | People's Republic of China | Mongolia |
| Coat of arms | | |
| Flag | | |
| Anthem | | |
| Area | 9,596,961 km$^2$ (3,705,407 sq mi) (including Hong Kong and Macau) | 1,564,116 km$^2$ (603,909 sq mi) |
| Population | 1,409,050,000 | 3,227,863 |
| Population density | 145/km2 (375.5/sq mi) | 2.07/km2 (5.4/sq mi) |
| Capital | Beijing (21,893,095) | Ulaanbaatar (1,612,005) |
| Largest city | Shanghai (26,317,104) | Ulaanbaatar (1,612,005) |
| Government | Unitary one-party socialist republic | Unitary semi-presidential republic |
| First leader | Chairman Mao Zedong | President Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat |
| Current leaders | CCP General Secretary and President Xi Jinping Premier Li Qiang | President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh Prime minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene |
| Established | 21 September 1949 (People's Republic declared) 1 October 1949 (Proclamation of the People's Republic) 4 December 1982 (current constitution) | 13 February 1992 (current constitution) |
| Official languages | Standard Chinese | Mongolian |
| Currency | Yuan | Tögrög |
| GDP (nominal) | $18.273 trillion (2024) | $16.908 billion (2023) |
| External debt (nominal) | $1.843 trillion (2018 Q4) | $25.2 billion (2017) |
| GDP (PPP) | $37.072 trillion (2024) | $52.467 billion (2023) |
| GDP (nominal) per capita | 12,969 (2024) | $6,666 (2024) |
| GDP (PPP) per capita | $26,310(2024) | $20,514 (2025) |
| Human Development Index | 0.790 (high) | 0.737(high) |
| Expatriates | ~6,300,000 Mongolians living in China | ~40,000 Chinese living in Mongolia |
| Foreign exchange reserves | 3,088,000 (millions of USD) | 3,697 (millions of USD) |
| Military expenditures | $177.6 billion (1.9% of GDP) (2019) | $210 million (1.5% of GDP) (2019) |
| Military personnel | 3,205,000 (0.23% of population) 2,035,000 (active) 510,000 (reserve) 660,000 (paramilitary) | 170,000 (5.2% of population) 35,000 (active) 135,000 (reserve) unknown (paramilitary) |
| Army size | People's Liberation Army Ground Force (2019) 18,910 main battle tanks 49,350 armored fighting vehicles 3,710 self-propelled guns 6,945 towed artillery 2,890 multiple-launch rocket systems 1,531 surface to air missile systems | Mongolian Ground Force (2019) 0 main battle tanks 0 armored fighting vehicles 0 self-propelled guns 0 towed artillery 0 multiple-launch rocket systems 0 surface to air missile systems |
| Air force size | People's Liberation Army Air Force 2,378 fighters/interceptors 550 attack aircraft 191 transports 980 helicopters 446 attack helicopters | Mongolian Air Force 6 fighters/interceptors 0 attack aircraft 9 transports 0 helicopters 0 attack helicopters |
| Navy size | People's Liberation Army Navy (2025) Total naval strength: 788 ships 3 aircraft carriers 4 landing helicopter docks 12 amphibious transport docks 32 landing ship tanks 33 landing ship mediums 62 destroyers 58 frigates 75 corvettes 150 missile boats 26 submarine chasers 17+ gunboats 36 mine countermeasure vessels 79 submarines 19 replenishment ships 232 auxiliaries | No Navy |
| Nuclear warheads active/total | 500 (2024) | 0 |

## Background

The Han and Mongol (as well as their ancestors, the Proto-Mongols) peoples have been in contact with each other for millennia.
Throughout history, polities in the Central Plains and the Mongolian Plateau have had complicated relations. The Great Wall was constructed to ward off attacks by nomads from the north, notably during the Han and Ming dynasties. The Tang dynasty, following its defeat of the Xueyantuo, established the Protectorate General to Pacify the North in 647 to rule the Mongolian Plateau.
In 1271, the Mongols under Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, established the Yuan dynasty as a Chinese dynasty and conquered all of China proper in 1279. In 1368, the Ming dynasty successfully overthrew the Yuan dynasty and the remnant Yuan imperial court was forced to retreat north, thereby forming the Northern Yuan dynasty.
The Ming Great Wall was strengthened and the period was characterized by repeated Ming raids into Northern Yuan territory and vice versa. During the transition from Ming to Qing, the last monarch of all Mongols Ligdan Khan allied with the Ming against the Qing dynasty until Ligdan was defeated by Qing forces and Inner Mongolia was conquered by the Manchus in 1635. In 1644, the Ming dynasty was overthrown by peasant rebels under Li Zicheng, who established the short-lived Shun dynasty which would soon be defeated by the Qing dynasty. After 1691, Outer Mongolia were incorporated into the Qing empire during the Dzungar–Qing Wars.
Bogd Khanate in Outer Mongolia declared its independence in 1911 after more than 200 years of Qing rule. The Republic of China was established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty. During this period, the Beiyang government of the Republic of China, as the successor to the Qing, claimed Outer Mongolia as Chinese territory. This claim was provided for in the Imperial Edict of the Abdication of the Qing Emperor signed by the Empress Dowager Longyu on behalf of the six-year-old Xuantong Emperor: "[...] the continued territorial integrity of the lands of the five races, Manchu, Han, Mongol, Hui, and Tibetan into one great Republic of China" ([...] 仍合滿、漢、蒙、回、藏五族完全領土，為一大中華民國). However, the Chinese government lacked any stable control over the region due to massive civil wars in the south and the rise of regional warlords in the Warlord Era. Consequently, Outer Mongolia sought Russian support to claim its independence. In 1919, Chinese general Xu Shuzheng advanced into Outer Mongolia and annulled its independence. In 1921, Chinese forces were driven out by White Russian forces led by Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg. Some months later they were driven out by the Red Army of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Far Eastern Republic and pro-Soviet Mongolian forces. In 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was proclaimed. With the onset of the Japanese invasion of China, little effort was given to reestablish Chinese control over Outer Mongolia.
Following the end of World War II, the Republic of China, led by the Kuomintang, was forced to formally accept Outer Mongolian independence under Soviet pressure. Recognition of Mongolian independence was stipulated in the Sino-Soviet agreement of August 14, 1945. The Chinese government officially recognized Mongolian independence in January 1946. In 1949, the Communists won the Chinese Civil War and maintained the policy of recognizing Mongolia's independent status.

## Cold War

The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with Mongolia on October 16, 1949, and both nations signed a border treaty in 1962. With the Sino-Soviet split, Mongolia aligned itself with the Soviet Union and asked for the deployment of Soviet forces, leading to security concerns in China. As a result, bilateral ties remained tense until 1984, when a high-level Chinese delegation visited Mongolia and both nations started to survey and demarcate their borders. Mongolian General Secretary Jambyn Batmönkh, during a meeting with President Kim Il sung while on a state visit to Pyongyang in November 1986 states that "renewing the development of China-Mongolian relations is important for our two countries’ people's common interest". In 1986, a series of agreements to bolster trade and establish transport and air links was signed. In 1988, both nations signed a treaty on border control. Mongolia also started a more independent policy and pursued more friendly ties with China.

## Recent period

In the post-Cold War era, China has taken major steps to normalise its relationship with Mongolia, emphasizing its respect for Mongolia's sovereignty and independence. In 1994, Chinese Premier Li Peng signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. China has become Mongolia's biggest trade partner and source of foreign investment. Bilateral trade reached US$1.13 billion by the first nine months of 2007, registering an increase of 90% from 2006. China offered Mongolia permission to using the Port of Tianjin to give it and its goods access to trade within the Asia Pacific region. China also expanded its investments in Mongolia's mining industries, giving it access to the country's natural resources.
Mongolia participates in the Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI has been an important factor in the growing Mongolian view that China is an economic partner rather than a threat to its territorial integrity.$^{:208}$ Mongolia cooperates in the development of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, one of the six major land corridors of the BRI.$^{:39}$ In January 2024, Mongolia stated that it seeks to institute a summit where the three countries can further develop economic opportunities, including the corridor.
In January 2024, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene described relations between Mongolia and China as at their highest level and described the two countries as working towards a comprehensive strategic partnership.