The present invention relates to a call processing method and an access network element in a mobile communications system. In a signaling exchange process for setting up a call leg, a call leg identifier that identifies a logical resource allocated by an access network element to the call leg is carried, thereby reducing signaling exchange caused by setup or release of a service link between access network elements in the prior art, saving signaling overhead in a call process, and enhancing call access capabilities of a mobile communications system effectively. In addition, after the service link between the access network elements is set up, service packets can be forwarded between the access network elements in a self-addressing manner.