Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on August 31 on the sidelines of the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Xinhua reported.

Xi stressed China's willingness to align development strategies with Mongolia, advance traditional cooperation in trade, connectivity, energy and minerals, and explore potential in green minerals, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Khurelsukh said deepening friendly cooperation with China remains the top priority of Mongolia's foreign policy, expressing readiness to consolidate political trust and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, industry, agriculture, mining and the green economy.

Mongolian coal exports reached 68.34 million tonnes in January-July 2026, up 53.88% year on year, with all volumes shipped to China, according to the Mongolian General Administration of Customs.

China imported 68.58 million tonnes of Mongolian coal during the period, up 55.1% year on year, including 46.79 million tonnes of coking coal, up 57.4% and accounting for 68% of total Mongolian coal imports, data from China's General Administration of Customs showed.