Chinggis Khaan International Airport

Tokyo, September 29, 2026 — Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral is making his first official foreign visit to Japan, with talks focused on strengthening the two countries’ strategic partnership and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and civil aviation.

At the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister Uchral is making an official visit to Japan from September 27 to 30. The two sides are exchanging views on further developing the Mongolia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, increasing trade and investment, expanding people-to-people ties and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

One of the most concrete economic issues on the agenda is the expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Japan plans to provide approximately ¥150 billion, or around $1 billion, in concessional financing for the second phase of the airport’s expansion, The Japan Times reported. The two sides are expected to advance an agreement on the financing during Prime Minister Uchral’s visit.

According to Mongolian parliamentary documents, the financing could amount to as much as ¥158.284 billion, with an annual interest rate of 1.1% and a 10-year grace period on principal repayments. The expansion project includes approximately 81,900 square metres of additional facilities and is scheduled for completion by 2034.

Once completed, the expansion would increase Chinggis Khaan International Airport’s annual passenger-handling capacity from approximately 1.6 million to 5.2 million. Japanese officials say the new airport has begun handling more passengers than originally projected, creating a need to expand both terminal and aircraft parking capacity.

For Mongolia, the airport expansion is more than an infrastructure project. It is strategically important for improving international air links and supporting tourism and business travel. Japan is one of Mongolia’s key “third-neighbour” partners, alongside its two immediate neighbours, Russia and China, and has been involved in infrastructure, human-resource development and economic cooperation with Mongolia for many years.

Prime Minister Uchral’s itinerary includes meetings with leaders of the Japanese Parliament, as well as representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan-Mongolia Economic Committee and Japanese business groups. The meetings will address opportunities to expand trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries.

The visit coincides with a historic anniversary in Mongolia-Japan diplomatic relations. The two countries will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2027. The Mongolian Government views the anniversary as an opportunity to take economic relations, people-to-people ties and long-term cooperation to a new level.

Japan also financed the original construction of Chinggis Khaan International Airport. The initial project used ¥65.657 billion in Japanese loans, and the new airport began operations in 2021. If the new expansion financing goes ahead, it would further deepen Japan’s long-term involvement in Mongolia’s aviation infrastructure.

Prime Minister Uchral’s visit therefore extends beyond diplomacy, aiming to advance concrete projects directly linked to Mongolia’s international transport connectivity, investment, trade and economic diversification.

As Mongolia seeks to expand its economic relations and strengthen cooperation with “third-neighbour” countries beyond its two immediate neighbours, the special strategic partnership with Japan is becoming an important channel for linking infrastructure development with private-sector cooperation.