Premier Li Keqiang met with Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on April 24.

China and Mongolia are good neighbors, Premier Li said, and the year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of China-Mongolia ties and the 25th anniversary of the amendment to the China-Mongolian treaty on friendship and cooperation.

With a new round of opportunities coming to the fore to facilitate China-Mongolian relations, China is willing to beef up political mutual trust with Mongolia and respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, in a bid to propel the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.

China hopes that both sides will deepen pragmatic cooperation, align the Belt Road Initiative with Mongolia’s Development Road program, speed up construction of cross-border free trade zones and economic cooperation zones, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in agriculture, capacity and culture, among others, the Premier said.

In terms of cross-border transportation, construction of ports and the like, Premier Li added, China will continue to offer convenience to Mongolia.

Battulga echoed that Mongolia attaches great importance to the reciprocal China-Mongolia relations. And Mongolia stays a stickler for the One-China Principle and the principle that Taiwan and Tibet are two integral parts of China.

Both sides will unswervingly respect each other’s core interests, Battulga said.

Referring back to Premier Li’s proposal on aligning the Belt and Road Initiative and the Development Road program, as well as stepping up multifaceted bilateral cooperation, Battulga expressed Mongolia’s zeal for collaboration.

State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Xiaojie also attended the meeting.