Despite global challenges, the Boao Forum for Asia held in South China's Hainan Province, sent the world an important message of global collaboration and development while addressing new opportunities in Asian regional cooperation to overcome economic hurdles in the post-pandemic era, the Mongolian Ambassador to China said on Thursday.

Against the backdrop of global uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and regional conflicts that disrupted supply chains and dampened confidence, the three-day event convened over 1,000 representatives from 42 countries and regions, both online and offline, to jointly pursue solutions to the difficulties that the world is facing, especially for Asian countries, while looking into opportunities through greater collaboration under a shared future.


Speaking to the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum, Mongolian Ambassador to China, Tuvshin Badral, welcomed the forums goal of promoting regional cooperation and development in the areas of technology and innovation, health, education, culture and information technology.

While the challenge of COVID-19 still lingers, the ambassador said that the annual event convened under the theme "The World in COVID-19 and Beyond: Working Together for Global Development and a Shared Future" is a precious opportunity to promote collaborative development in the post-pandemic era.

Over the last 20 years, the Boao Forum for Asia has become an important platform for regional development dialogue.

According to Badral, at this year's forum, a wide range of concerning topics are under discussion, ranging from the world economy and the COVID-19 pandemic to digital economy and international cooperation and governance which are areas that touch the most important aspects of world collaboration.

The attending representatives included dozens of state leaders like Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, and Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, and all extended their willingness for stronger collaboration despite the differences.

In his speech via video link on Thursday the President of Mongolia highlighted that his country "looks forward to dynamically cooperating with fellow countries in the region, especially in projects and programs designed to build regional infrastructure, promote green growth and improve environmental degradation."

China is an important trade partner and one of Mongolias leading investors. Trade between the two countries has accounted for more than 60 percent of the total foreign trade turnover of Mongolia in recent years.

"Even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade turnover between both countries has been steadily growing and, by enhancing logistics, transportation and border point infrastructure, there is great potential for further increases," Badral said.

This year marks the beginning of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and member countries like Mongolia is giving a particular attention to the potential that can be fully unleashed for regional development.

The ambassador said that Mongolia highly appreciates China's commitment to sharing its development benefits with its neighboring countries and the common development policy.

"The 'Mongolia-Russia-China Economic Corridor Program, on which we are working actively, will enhance the regional development cooperation as well," Badral said.