Xi proposes joint efforts on three-way economic corridor

President Xi Jinping (center), Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj attend a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping proposed joint efforts with Russia and Mongolia on Thursday to achieve fruitful results in building an economic corridor linking the three countries.

The nations should also enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure interconnection, investment, production capacity, culture and environmental protection, he said.

Xi made the remarks at a trilateral meeting of leaders from China, Russia and Mongolia on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

The meeting, chaired by Xi and attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, is the third of its kind.

The development strategies of the three countries — China's Belt and Road Initiative, Russia's construction of a Europe-Asia passage and Mongolia's Grass Road initiatives — should be the focus of the trilateral cooperation, Xi said.

The three countries should also enhance cooperation under the SCO framework, he said.

Putin, describing China and Mongolia as friendly neighbors based on equality, respect and mutual benefits, said Russia wants to work with the two countries to cooperate on infrastructure construction, transportation and customs facilitation.

Russia is willing to advance the process of forming a regional economic body with China and Mongolia and to enhance people-to-people exchanges, Putin said.