China, Russia and Mongolia have confirmed the extension of the Outline of the Development Plan on Establishing the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor by five years, the three countries announced in a trilateral meeting on Thursday in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.

The three countries officially launched the feasibility study on the upgrade and development of the central-route railway of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and agreed to move forward the project on the Mongolian section of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline, according to a statement. 

The trilateral meeting, the sixth of its kind, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

President Xi said the three countries have endorsed the economic corridor connecting Russia, Mongolia and China, and that programs have been implemented to deepen the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement, and tourism, making it a high-quality exchange platform for talents.

In building a safer environment for cross-border commerce between the three countries, China welcomes more financial institutes from Russia and Mongolia to join the RMB Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, Xi said.

He also underscored the strong impetus and resilience of the cooperation among China, Russia and Mongolia, noting that despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trilateral cooperation has never stopped.

The Chinese president also praised the generous help and shared experience offered by the three countries, which protected the lives and health of their people.

Their joint disease prevention and control measures provided a stable and smooth economic and trade exchange environment, especially with the Asian Highway network, said Xi.

He said the three parties should maintain political mutual trust, increase mutual support, respect each other's core interests, accommodate each other's major concerns, and strengthen coordination and cooperation for international and regional affairs.

Xi also underscored that the three countries shall enhance cooperation within the framework of the SCO, building a platform that can address risks and challenges while keeping its potential for continuous growth.

Russian President Putin said the cooperation among the three sides has produced specific results and that the three should further understand and support each other as eternal neighbors.

Meanwhile, Mongolian President Khurelsukh said expanding the cooperation with Russia and China is Mongolia's top priority.

"Our country intends to further strengthen mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation with its neighbors at the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as implement joint programs and projects aimed at the sustainable development of our region," he said.

(With input from Xinhua)