China and Mongolia pledge to increase cooperation

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Europe

00:55

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mongolian counterpart Khaltmaa Battulga on Wednesday vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation and to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Mongolia in Vladivostok.

Xi and Battulga are both in Russia's far eastern city to attend the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

China has always attached great importance to Sino-Mongolian relations, Xi stressed. The two sides should understand and respect each other's core interests and deepen mutual trust, he added.

He also said China respects Mongolia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and respects the development path chosen by the Mongolian people.

The Chinese president also said the two should continue to vigorously facilitate the alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia's "Development Road" program.

Xi hoped big projects can play a leading role in promoting practical cooperation

Xi said China also supports Mongolia's development of animal husbandry and processing industry and will import more high-quality farm products and pasture products.

People-to-people and cultural exchanges should be increased to consolidate public opinion and the social foundation of bilateral relations, he added.

The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and work together to promote regional cooperation, Xi pointed out.

Battulga said developing stable friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with China is an unwavering policy of Mongolia.

He said Mongolia is committed to deepening its relations with China on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

The Mongolian side firmly adheres to the one-China policy and maintains that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of the Chinese territory, Battulga stressed.

The Mongolian president also noted Mongolia is willing to actively participate in the construction of China's Belt and Road Initiative and to push forward the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor.