China, Mongolia vow closer ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Mongolian counterpart Tsakhia Elbegdorj Thursday after China held a grand military parade at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing.

Xi thanked Elbegdorj for attending the commemoration marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, saying it shows Mongolia highly values the bilateral relations.

China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, said Xi, adding their relations are an important part in China's neighborhood diplomacy.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has been developing smoothly, he said. Xi voiced hopes that both sides cooperate closely to speed up the implementation of consensus.

The two countries should maintain close high-level communication and cooperation in all fields, fully understand and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, said the Chinese president.

Xi called for integrating China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with Mongolia's Steppe Road plan, and launching a batch of key projects to enhance cooperation levels.

China is willing to keep close communication with Mongolia and Russia, to push the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, he said.

Elbegdorj said he was pleased to participate in the commemoration on Thursday morning.

He called for implementing the consensus he reached with Xi on advancing bilateral cooperation, and boosting new progress in Mongolia-China all-round strategic partnership.

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang also met with Elbegdorj on Thursday, calling for closer parliamentary exchanges between the Chinese National People's Congress and the State Great Hural of Mongolia.

Zhang urged the two parliaments to share governance experience and maintain regular exchanges.

Elbegdorj said he expected closer parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in such areas as agriculture, farming and mining. Endi