Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds talks with his Mongolian counterpart Sukhbaataryn Batbold in Ulan Bator
On June 1, 2010, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with his Mongolian counterpart Sukhbaataryn Batbold in Ulan Bator.
Wen said that China and Mongolia are important neighbors to each other. Under the current regional and international situations which are undergoing profound changes, China and Mongolia should proceed from the long-term development of their respective countries and lasting prosperity and stability of the region, strengthen exchanges and cooperation and advance the partnership of good-neighborliness and mutual trust between the two countries, Wen said.
Wen pointed out that China and Mongolia, with geographical proximity, cultural affinity and economic complementarity, enjoy unique conditions and advantages for their exchanges and cooperation. China is ready to maintain exchanges of high-level visits with Mongolia, said the Chinese premier. He said the two nations should strengthen mutual political trust and continue to extend firm support to each other on major issues concerning their respective core interests. Wen also said the two sides should adopt practical measures to deepen their trade and economic cooperation for common development and make efforts to promote cooperation in mineral resources development, infrastructure construction and finance. He suggested that the two sides launch a feasibility study at an early date on a China-Mongolia free trade area (FTA). China is also willing to boost cooperation with Mongolia in energy, environmental protection and transportation and support Mongolia’s industrial development, he added. The Chinese premier pledged continued assistance for Mongolia's economic and social development. As an effort to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and build up mutual understanding and friendly feelings between the two countries, Wen said China will offer 2,000 government scholarships to Mongolian students in the next five years. China will also invite 300 youths from Mongolia to visit China and will discuss the possibility of establishing a youth exchange mechanism between the two countries. China welcomes and supports Mongolia to participate in regional cooperation and is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Mongolia in regional organizations to jointly safeguard regional peace and tranquility.
Batbold said in recent years Mongolia-China good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust has been developing very well with frequent high-level exchanges and deepening mutual trust. Mongolia’s trade and economic cooperation with China, Mongolia's largest trading partner and biggest source of investment, has been fruitful in recent years. The Mongolian government and people thank for China’s assistance for Mongolia’s economic and social development. Mongolia highly values its relations with China and will adhere to the one-China policy, said the Mongolian leader. He also said Mongolia will steadfastly support the Chinese government's position on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet. Mongolia is ready to keep close high-level exchanges with China and maintain communication and dialogue on major issues. Expressing hope for progress in the building of the FTA at an early date, Batbold said Chinese enterprises are welcome to expand investments in Mongolia and participate in the country's infrastructure construction and the development of mineral and energy resources. Batbold said Mongolia is ready to increase cooperation with China in such areas as finance and environmental protection. Mongolia is also ready to actively expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China and build up mutual understanding and friendship between both peoples. Mongolia will invite 60 students from the quake-hit area in Qinghai to recuperate in Mongolia. The Mongolian side also pledged to enhance coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard regional peace and stability.
The two leaders also attended a signing ceremony of the agreement on China-Mongolia boundary management system, the economic and technical cooperation agreement and other documents. They also jointly met the press.
Prior to the talks, Batbold hosted a welcome ceremony for Premier Wen.