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Xi's Mongolia visit opens new chapter of bilateral ties: FM

(Xinhua)    09:40, August 23, 2014
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BEIJING, Aug. 22 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded state visit to Mongolia has charted the course for future development of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday.

The minister, who accompanied Xi in the two-day trip, noted that the fruitful visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to the landlocked nation in 11 years, has enhanced mutual trust, promoted economic cooperation and deepened traditional friendship between the two countries.

"This visit bears great historic significance and opens a new chapter for China-Mongolia relations," he said.

NEW POSITIONING OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

During the visit, Xi and his Mongolian counterpart, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, signed a joint declaration to upgrade bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two countries established a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust in 2003 and elevated the ties to a strategic partnership in 2011.

"It is a strategic choice made by the two heads of state for the sake of the long-term development of their own countries as well as the whole region's lasting prosperity and stability," Wang said.

"It has charted the course for the future development of bilateral relations," he added.

Both China and Mongolia are striving for reform and development and the revitalization of their nations, said Wang, adding that good-neighborly and friendly cooperation is a common aspiration of the two countries.

"China-Mongolia relationship is standing on a new historical starting point and is embracing even greater opportunities for development," he added.

Expounding China's peaceful development and good-neighborly policies, Xi stressed that no matter how the international landscape changes, China always respects Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the development path selected by the Mongolian people.

The two nations should be good neighbors, partners and friends who can always trust each other, said Xi, adding that China regards its relations with Mongolia as a priority of its foreign policy.

According to Wang, the Mongolian side has pledged to resolutely support China's stand on issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, and that it will not support any group or move that attempts to split China.

The two sides have also agreed to maintain high-level contacts and strategic communication, establish a mechanism of strategic dialogue between their foreign ministries and enhance cooperation in defense and security.

COMPLEMENTARITY AND PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Chances for China and Mongolia to cooperate are huge, as Ulan Bator and Beijing, one boasting of its natural resources and the other capital and technology, enjoy geological adjacency and economic complementarity, said Wang.

Heads of state of the two countries outlined in Xi's visit the future direction of practice cooperation in mineral resource exploration, infrastructure construction and finance, and prioritized collaboration in road and railway connectivity and major projects, so as to elevate bilateral trade volume to 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.

During Xi's visits, the two sides signed over 30 cooperation documents, covering such areas of trade and economy, mineral resources, electricity, transportation, and finance.

Beijing also inked a memorandum of understanding with Ulan Bator on setting up an economic cooperation zone, and agreed to offer sea ports and railway transport access to the landlocked neighbor.

These decisions, in accordance with the two nations' development needs, are expected to integrate their advantages and connect their path of development.

WIN-WIN STRATEGY

Xi has stressed that China's cooperation with Mongolia, an landlocked nation with relatively smaller population and highly foreign dependent economy, will stick to mutual benefit and win-win strategy instead of zero-sum game.

There is no doubt that China will fulfill its commitment to share the development fruits with Mongolian people so as to reach common growth and prosperity, Wang said.

For its side, Mongolia hailed China's adherence to the principle of equality and mutual benefits, and its support and assistance of Mongolia's economic and social development.

China has taken Mongolia's interests into full consideration in the bilateral cooperation, which deeply moved the Mongolians, said Elbegdorj.

WELCOME ABOARD CHINA'S TRAIN OF DEVELOPMENT

Interactions among Asian nations influence their development and the stability and prosperity of Asia, the world's most dynamic region in terms of economic development, and a place rife with a host of hotspot, Wang stressed.

It is a major task for Asian countries to correctly handle relations with their neighbors, get along well with each other, achieve common development, and properly resolve controversies and disputes, Xi said in a speech delivered at the State Great Hural of Mongolia, the country's parliament.

Countries in the region, said Xi, should respect each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's free choice of social system and development path, not interfere in each other's internal affairs, take into consideration each other's major concerns, and deepen mutual understanding and recognition.

"China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and in the meantime, it will push for the concept among all countries," he said, vowing to uphold the guidelines of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy.

"You can take a ride on our express train or just make a hitchhike, all are welcome," he said.

In response, Mongolia highly appreciated China's good-neighborly policies, adding China's neighborhood diplomacy would bring key chances of development to Mongolia and other neighbors.

Steady relations with neighboring countries lay the foundation for China's national security and prosperity, Wang said.

Faced with the complicated changes of international and regional situations, China should adhere to its established strategies and put into practice its commitment to neighborliness, regional security and common prosperity, he noted.

Efforts should be made not only to get benefit from our neighbors, but also to give these countries equal access to China's development, and deepen mutual trust and cooperation with them, so as to follow the path of peaceful development and common growth, Wang stressed.

(Editor:Sun Zhao、Yao Chun)
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