China and Mongolia Thursday agreed to speed up the alignment of development strategies and boost cooperation to forge closer ties, as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was visiting this landlocked country.[Special coverage]
"We both agreed to steer the development of bilateral ties into the right direction," Li told a joint press conference after talks with his Mongolian counterpart Jargaltulga Erdenebat.
Li, in a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, reiterated China's stance on the South China Sea issue, saying that any dispute should be solved through bilateral negotiations by parties directly concerned.
SINO-MONGOLIAN TIES
Li arrived in Ulan Bator on Wednesday afteroon to pay an official visit. It was his first trip to Mongolia since he took office in 2013.
Sharing a 4,710-km-long borderline, China and Mongolia have witnessed warmer relations in recent years thanks to closer economic links and political trust.
During his talks with Erdenebat, Li said that China and Mongolia are neighbors, friends and partners, and the two countries have maintained a good momentum in building a comprehensive strategic partnership reached by both sides in August 2014.
Li said that the two countries respected each other's core interests and major concerns. China respected Mongolia's state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the development path chosen by the Mongolian people.
"China looks forward to working with Mongolia's new government in continued efforts to consolidate political mutual trust and maintain exchanges between high-level officials, so as to deepen cooperation in all respects," Li said.
Li said the two neighbors are economically complementary and new opportunities in deepening cooperation have become available. China stands ready to dovetail its Belt and Road Initiative with Mongolia's Steppe Road program. China is also willing to start a feasibility study on a free trade pact with Mongolia.
Besides, China stands ready to make new progress with Mongolia in such fields as the processing of farm and pasture products, housing and infrastructure, said Li, who also suggested the two sides strengthen financial cooperation and expand currency-swap scale, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.
Erdenebat, for his part, said that economic cooperation and trade are major pillars in bilateral ties and the Mongolian side is willing to advance cooperation with China in such fields as agriculture, livestock farming, energy, minerals and infrastructure, he said.
Erdenebat welcomed more investment from Chinese firms, adding that Mongolia is positive with starting the feasibility study of a free trade pact.
China has for years been Mongolia's largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment. According to official statistics, two-way trade has expanded 50 times over the past two decades.
Following the talks, Erdenebat and Li witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation agreements ranging from trade, technology and infrastructure to radio and TV broadcasting.
Li also met with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Chairman of the State Great Hural Miyegombo Enkhbold in the day to discuss ways to improve bilateral ties.
