Xi's Mongolia visit lauded as significant to bilateral ties, regional development

Chinese President Xi Jinping's fruitful visit to Mongolia is of great practical significance to the further development of bilateral relations, officials and experts said.

The just-concluded two-day trip, which embodies the philosophy of "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness" in China's diplomacy with its neighbors, has also infused new vigor into regional development, they added.

Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Dendev Terbishdagva, who also co-chairs the Mongolia-China intergovernmental commission, said the speech Xi delivered Friday at the Mongolian parliament impressed him a lot.

What Xi said about Chinese history and world peace helped better understand China's policy of peaceful development, said the senior Mongolian official.

Xi citation of the proverb that "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others" showed that China will support the development of its neighboring countries, Terbishdagva added.

Mongolia and China are good neighbors and good friends, and what Xi remarked on China-Mongolia and international relations are extremely important, he said.

Sanjaasuren Oyun, Mongolia's environment and green development minister and also a lawmaker, said Xi's speech was "cordial and friendly, deep and comprehensive."

Mongolia and China are neighboring countries and the development of each of them is important to that of the other, she said, adding that the deepening of bilateral ties will set an example for other Asian countries.

Migeddorj Batchimeg, a Mongolian lawmaker, said Xi's speech elaborated China's Mongolia policy, specified Mongolia's standing in China's foreign policy, and blueprinted the development of bilateral ties in the next decade.

In the eyes of Alexander Larin, a senior researcher with the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, China, as a major country in the world, is showing its strength by broadening economic relations with other countries.

China has established a series of diplomatic strategic plans, among which building a community of shared destiny and interests is directly related to Mongolia, Larin said.

The joint declaration signed by Xi and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj shows that China considers Mongolia as a completely equal partner, the researcher said.

Upgrading China-Mongolia ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Larin added, will help the two countries deepen cooperation in various areas for the benefit both nations and also their international reputations.

Jabin Thomas Jacob, deputy director of India's Institute of Chinese Studies, said Xi's short but fruitful visit to Mongolia on Thursday and Friday showed a comprehensive upgrade of diplomatic, economic and trade relations between China and Mongolia.

During Xi's visit, the two sides signed a host of cooperation documents, covering such areas of trade and economy, mineral resources, electricity, transportation, and finance. That demonstrated China's great strength on the global economic stage and can be a major boost to any country that cooperates with China, Jacob said.

Xi's speech was very sincere, and particularly his comments on bilateral cooperation manifested China's demeanor as a major country, Jacob said.

He noted that Xi cited the Chinese proverb that "A good neighbor is not to be traded for gold," which showed the president will spare no efforts to establish good relations between China and its neighboring countries.

Mohamed El Saket, a former ambassador of the Arab League to China, pointed out that China attaches importance to improving relations with neighboring countries and strengthening cooperation with them.

China has one of the largest numbers of neighbors, and there is great potential for cooperation with those neighboring countries, El Saket said, adding that China fostering good relations with its neighbors is also critical to regional stability and development.

Mongolia shares the longest section of China's land borderline, and the two countries enjoy great economic complementarity, he said, urging the two sides to use these advantages to promote cooperation and exchanges in various fields.

Cha Jae-bok, chief researcher with South Korea's Northeast Asian History Foundation, said one of the highlights of Xi's trip was economic cooperation.

Noting that China's economic importance to Mongolia is self-evident as it has been Mongolia's largest trade partner and source of investment for many years, he said further boosting bilateral cooperation is conducive to achieving common development.

He added that upgrading China-Mongolia relations and enhancing their win-win cooperation are key to safeguarding regional security, and that China-Mongolia relations have bright prospects, just as Xi described in his signed article "Galloping Toward a Better Tomorrow for China-Mongolia Relations."

South Korea, as one of China's neighboring countries, is glad to see China developing mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors, Cha said.

Timur Katayamovich Kuvatov, director of Kazakhstan Today News Agency, said China's economic boom has brought a lot of opportunities to many countries, including China's neighbors.

China pays high attention to its neighbors and has been trying to foster an amicable and stable neighborhood, which shows China's commitment to peaceful development, Timur said.

The cultivation of a good neighborhood will not only provide a peaceful environment for China's development but benefit China's neighboring countries, he added.

Azamat Attokurove, a Kyrgyz economist, said closer cooperation between China and Mongolia will promote the development of the whole Asia.

Mongolia has become an international transportation hub thanks to its unique geographic advantages, and China and Mongolia are planning to jointly promote the construction of a rail artery between Asia and Europe, he noted.

Besides, he added, Mongolia is poised to actively participate in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt proposed by China, which will exert positive influence on the development of Central and South Asia.

Ichinaga Kitanaka, vice chairman of the Tokyo branch of the Japan-China Friendship Association, said Xi's visit was aimed at deepening relations with Mongolia.

Xi's inviting other countries to take China's train of development is a very good proposal, Kitanaka said, adding that he welcomes China's economic development and the consequent gradual formation of a new world economic system.