Part 5/10:

While these advancements are promising, Mongolia faces several hurdles. A notable barrier is the gauge difference between the Chinese broad gauge and the Russian narrow gauge railway systems, which complicates regional connectivity. Mongolia’s resistance to fully integrating with Chinese rail standards reflects broader concerns about sovereignty and the desire to maintain balanced relations with both regional giants.

Additionally, border bottlenecks—long truck queues at ports—disrupt supply chains. Mongolia's Prime Minister has called these delays a "blood flow disruption" for exports, particularly affecting the vital mining sector. Mongolia’s Revival Policy, introduced in late 2021, aims to address such issues but progress remains slow.