Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's top legislature National People's Congress, paid an official goodwill visit to Mongolia from Saturday to Monday at the invitation of Gombojav Zandanshatar, chairman of Mongolian parliament State Great Hural.

Besides Zandanshatar, Li met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene.

During his meeting with the Mongolian president, Li said China and Mongolia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away or exchanged for gold, and developing good-neighborly friendship is in line with the fundamental, long-term interests of the two countries.

Under the strategic guidance of Chinese and Mongolian leaders, the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership has been continuously lifted to higher levels, he said.

Since the onset of COVID-19, the two sides have joined hands to fight the disease and gifted one another sheep and tea, which has become a much-told story attesting to their friendship, he said.

Li said China has always upheld the neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and been actively developing its friendly cooperative relationship with Mongolia.

He expressed hope that the two sides will further deepen political mutual trust, continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and accelerate multilateral and bilateral win-win cooperation.

President Khurelsukh said that Mongolia is sincerely glad about the historic achievements made in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Noting that the Mongolia-China friendly cooperation is a model for the development of state-to-state relations, Khurelsukh said he hopes the two sides will strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields to elevate bilateral relations to higher levels and promote the two countries' development as well as the prosperity and stability of Asia.

The exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries are of great significance to deepening the good-neighborly friendship between Mongolia and China and enriching the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he added.

During his meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, Li said it is the common goal of China and Mongolia to develop economy, improve people's livelihood and strengthen their countries, which enjoy distinct economic complementarities and huge cooperation potential.

China is willing to strengthen development strategic alignment and policy communication and coordination with Mongolia to enhance infrastructural connectivity and regional integration, he said.

China stands ready to work with Mongolia on customs clearance at ports during the pandemic, implement existing cooperation projects, carry out green energy cooperation and expand trade exchanges to realize coordinated development and mutual benefit of the two countries, he added.

The two sides can also strengthen exchange and cooperation between political parties and the youth as well as cultural exchanges, Li said.

For his part, Oyun-Erdene said that developing good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with China is the primary goal of Mongolia's foreign policy, and China's rapid development is a great opportunity for Mongolia's development and revitalization.

Mongolia is willing to actively deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, logistics, ports, resources and education, and promote the alignment between Mongolia's New Revival Policy and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

During the talks with Chairman of Mongolia's State Great Hural (Parliament) Gombojav Zandanshatar, Li said China and Mongolia should be good neighbors with frequent exchange of visits, good friends conducting mutually beneficial cooperation, and partners in multilateral cooperation, so as to better benefit the two countries and their people.

The legislative bodies of the two countries should actively implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance and legislative work, and provide legal safeguards for promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields, Li said.

In addition, he said the two countries should strengthen coordination on multilateral occasions, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and speak with one voice for upholding multilateralism and improving the global governance system from the perspective of legislative bodies.

For his part, Zandanshatar said that friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries are an important part of the bilateral relations. He expressed hope that the two legislative bodies will deepen exchanges between their special committees and friendship groups.

He said the State Great Hural is ready to make positive efforts to enhance political mutual trust between Mongolia and China, promote practical cooperation and deepen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Li also briefed the Mongolian side on the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC.

The Mongolian side noted that it will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, actively support the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and make joint efforts with the Chinese side to push for the new development of the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Mongolian side also wished the 20th CPC National Congress a success.

During his stay in Mongolia, Li also visited the "Mongolian nomadism" grassland and ecological areas.

(With input from Xinhua)