Li Zhanshu, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, Sept 12, 2022. Li paid an official goodwill visit to Mongolia from Saturday to Monday, at the invitation of Chairman of Mongolia's State Great Hural (Parliament) Gombojav Zandanshatar. [Photo/Xinhua]

State officials agree to deepen mutual trust, support each other's interests

Top legislator Li Zhanshu has called on China and Mongolia to further deepen political mutual trust and continue to firmly support each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns during an official goodwill visit to the neighboring country.

During the two-day trip that concluded on Monday, Li, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene. He also held talks with Gombojav Zandanshatar, chairman of the State Great Hural, which is Mongolia's parliament.

When meeting with the Mongolian president, Li said that China and Mongolia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away or exchanged for gold, and that developing the good-neighborly friendship is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries.

China has always upheld the neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and has been actively developing its friendly cooperative relationship with Mongolia, he said.

Li also expressed the hope that the two sides further strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and push forward multilateral and bilateral win-win cooperation.

Khurelsukh asked Li to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, saying that Mongolia is sincerely glad about the historic achievements made in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of Xi and the Communist Party of China.

Noting that Mongolia-China friendly cooperation is a model for the development of state-to-state relations, Khurelsukh expressed the hope that the two sides strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, so as to push bilateral relations to higher levels, and jointly promote the development of the two countries and the prosperity and stability of Asia.

When meeting with Oyun-Erdene, Li said that it is the common goal of China and Mongolia to develop the economy, improve people's livelihood and strengthen the country and enrich the people, adding that the two countries complement each other economically and have huge potential for cooperation.

China is willing to strengthen the development of strategic alignment and policy communication and coordination with Mongolia to further promote infrastructural connectivity and promote the process of regional integration, he said.

For his part, Oyun-Erdene said that developing good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with China is the primary goal of Mongolia's foreign policy, and China's rapid development is a great opportunity for Mongolia's development and revitalization.

Mongolia is willing to actively deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, logistics, ports, resources and education, and promote the alignment between Mongolia's New Revival Policy and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

During talks with Zandanshatar, Li said that the legislative bodies of the two countries should actively implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the exchange of experience in state governance and legislative work, and provide legal safeguards for promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields.

For his part, Zandanshatar said that friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries are an important part of bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that the two legislative bodies deepen exchanges between their special committees and friendship groups.

The Mongolian side noted that it will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, actively support the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi, and is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to push for new development of the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Mongolian side also wished the 20th National Congress of the CPC a success.