Inner Mongolia autonomous region, China's key gateway for opening-up to the north, has accelerated its high-quality development through deeper international engagement.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–25), the region’s foreign trade steadily expanded. Total imports and exports increased from 123.08 billion yuan ($17.81 billion) in 2021 to 220.67 billion yuan in 2025, while the number of trading partners grew from 186 to 201.

Comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones were established in the cities of Ordos, Baotou, and Ereenhot, further boosting new trade models.

Cargo throughput at the region's land ports surged from 66.33 million metric tons in 2020 to 132 million metric tons in 2025, significantly strengthening logistics support for cross-border trade.

In 2025, a total of 8,612 China-Europe freight trains passed through Inner Mongolia, up 14.3 percent year-on-year and accounting for 47.5 percent of the national total, both record highs. Goods transported by these trains have continued to upgrade, ranging from daily consumer products to new energy vehicles.

Agricultural exports also remained strong. In 2025, the region's agricultural export value reached 13.91 billion yuan, up 15.4 percent year-on-year. Growing demand from emerging markets, such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia, boosted exports of seed kernels, while processed products, including tomato powder, dehydrated vegetables, and perilla seed oil, gained new opportunities.

Meanwhile, international cooperation continued to deepen. The fifth China-Mongolia Expo, held in Hohhot in 2025, attracted participants from countries, including Mongolia, Russia, Brazil, Uruguay, Kenya, and Mozambique, highlighting Inner Mongolia's expanding global partnerships.