Xi pledges stronger ties with Mongolia

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday pledged to take a strategic and long-term view on China-Mongolia relations.

Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia Zandaakhuu Enkhbold on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013, which opened on Sunday in Boao, a coastal town in south China's Hainan province.

Xi underscored the great importance China has placed on developing ties with Mongolia and said both countries are at a key development stage.

Xi called on the two countries to seize opportunities, upgrade cooperation, enrich their bilateral strategic partnership and bring benefits to the two countries and peoples.

The Chinese president urged the two countries to respect each other, take care of each others' concerns and enhance strategic trust on issues concerning sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity.

The two countries should strengthen high-level visits and communication, deepen understanding, give play to each other's strengths and promote cooperation in infrastructure and finance, Xi said.

He said China will follow mutually-beneficial principles and work more closely with Mongolia in the advanced processing, new energy and husbandry industries.In a bid to lay a solid foundation for maintaining neighborly relations, Xi also called for stronger exchanges in culture and education.

Enkhbold voiced appreciation for China's good-neighbor policy, saying China's development will further benefit surrounding countries.

He underscored Mongolia's commitment to developing a partnership with China that is based on mutual respect, trust, equality and common prosperity.

Mongolia would like to maintain high-level visits with China, expand cooperation in trade and the economy, energy and minerals, agriculture and cross-border transportation, he said.

Enkhbold said Mongolia will take active measures to attract Chinese business investment and the State Great Hural of Mongolia, the country's parliament, will provide legal support for such investment.