Chinese, Mongolian party leaders meet on closer ties

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met here Saturday with Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) Miyegombo Enkhbold, pledging to increase mutual trust and jointly push forward bilateral ties.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, arrived in Ulan Bator earlier Saturday as guest of Enkhbold, who is also chairman of the State Great Hural, Mongolia's parliament.

Describing the two countries as "good neighbors, friends and partners," Liu said China has proposed and will uphold its neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Liu called for the implementation of the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, saying the two sides should boost mutually beneficial trade cooperation and tightly dovetail China's Belt and Road Initiative with Mongolia's Steppe Road program.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Mongolia, and the two countries agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership -- the highest rank in Mongolia's diplomatic relations.

Liu also pledged closer party-to-party and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

China-Mongolia friendship is deeply rooted in the minds of the two peoples, said Liu, expecting to further increase cultural interactions on such fields as exchanges between youths, women, media and civil organizations so as to pass on the friendship from generation to generation.

Enkhbold expressed congratulations on the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, saying the frequent high-level exchanges will vigorously promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

Mongolia's political and economic development is at a critical stage,said Enkhbold, voicing hope for more support from China.

He also said Mongolia attaches great importance to cooperation on major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative and the strategic trilateral cooperation among China, Mongolia and Russia.