ULAN BATOR, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday, with both sides pledging to promote cooperation in trade and epidemic prevention and control.
During the meeting, Battulga asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Battulga said that Mongolia attaches great importance to the Mongolia-China relations and is willing to work hand in hand with China to constantly enrich the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries have supported and helped each other in fighting the disease, he said, recalling his special visit to China, during which the president expressed his support for China in person.
The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has been developing smoothly, and there is broad space for future cooperation, Battulga said.
Mongolia is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields, continuously expand trade, increase exports of high-quality agricultural and livestock products as well as coal to China, strengthen cooperation at border ports and in cross-border road and rail transportation, and facilitate economic, trade and personnel exchanges between the two countries, he said.
Mongolia is willing to work with China to strengthen cooperation between Mongolia, China and Russia to jointly safeguard the regional development, prosperity, peace and stability, the president said.
Wang first conveyed Xi's best wishes to President Battulga. Wang said that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Mongolia have helped each other and overcome difficulties together, which vividly demonstrates the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
In February this year, in particular, President Battulga visited China at the critical time of epidemic prevention and control, and offered 30,000 sheep as a token of support, which tells a good story of the China-Mongolia friendship, Wang said.
China has also actively provided medical supplies to Mongolia and shared prevention and treatment experience as well as information without reservation, he added.
The virus is still spreading around the world, Wang said, noting that as friendly neighbors, China and Mongolia should strengthen cooperation in the regular epidemic prevention and control, jointly safeguard the health of the two peoples, and strive to build a global community of health for all.
The two countries should step up their post-epidemic cooperation, Wang said, noting that the huge Chinese market will provide an important opportunity for Mongolia's development.
China is willing to import more agricultural and livestock products as well as energy products that meet the needs of its domestic market, strengthen cooperation at border ports and in cross-border transportation of goods, discuss the signing of a free trade agreement at an early date, and promote the continuous growth of bilateral trade, said Wang.
The China-Mongolia-Russia cooperation is mutually beneficial among neighboring countries, Wang said, adding that the three countries should well implement the construction of their economic corridor and advance important cooperation projects in an orderly manner.
Wang emphasized that China and Mongolia are neighbors and should always be good friends.
"This is the general direction we must adhere to," he said, noting that the two sides should strengthen political mutual trust, consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, and ensure a long-term healthy and stable development of bilateral ties. Enditem
