Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The delegates led by Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China Wei Fenghe paid courtesy call on Speaker of the State Great Hural (Parliament) G.Zandanshatar yesterday.

At the outset meeting, Speaker G.Zandanshatar expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, while emphasizing that deepening friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation with China is one of Mongolia's priorities of foreign policy. He also noted that the Government of Mongolia is committed to active cooperation to further strengthen the Mongolia-China Comprehensive Partnership and enrich it with new content.

Thanking the Speaker for taking the time to meet the delegation, the Minister noted that he is satisfied with the bilateral good-neighborly relations and cooperation which is developing steadily and successfully.

He underlined that the visit is taking place amid the pandemic with the permission of President Xi Jinping, while expressing his intention to expand cooperation between the two countries with the implementation of the agreements reached by the two heads of state. Moreover, he underscored that the visit which is taking place amid the pandemic is the sign of special relations between the two countries.

In turn, Speaker G.Zandanshatar emphasized that the heads of state of the two countries held telephone conversation on July 16, reaffirming their interest in further developing and deepening the relations between the two countries and defining the future direction of the relations.

During the telephone conversation, the two heads of state discussed deepening cooperation in developing Mongolia's "Steppe Road" initiative in harmony with China's "Belt and Road" initiative to enrich bilateral relations with new content.

The Speaker also said that the sides should work more actively to achieve the common goal of increasing trade turnover to USD 10 billion. He further underlined that important agreements had been reached to deepen cooperation, accelerate the implementation of quality projects and programs, and jointly implement major projects to combat desertification and dust storms.

The Speaker noted that the Mongolian side attaches great importance to the implementation of the agreements reached during the telephone conversations of the heads of state, and that the relevant organizations are actively working.

In addition, he also noted that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue the close cooperation between the two countries in the framework of international and regional cooperation organizations and mechanisms.

Minister Wei Fenghe emphasized that China's economic development has been stable regardless of the pandemic, while expressing his confidence in the good neighborly relations between the two countries will be mutually beneficial and effective.

While noting that Mongolia has consistently pursued a peaceful, open, independent and multi-pillar foreign policy and aims to contribute to international and regional affairs, Speaker G.Zandanshatar stressed that defense cooperation is an important component of bilateral relations and is directly related to strengthening political relations and mutual understanding.

Expressing gratitude to the Chinese side for their continued support in medical equipment and vaccine supplies to help Mongolia’s effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Speaker underscored that Mongolia immunized majority of its population in a short period of time and reduced the spread and risk of the pandemic thanks to the vaccines supplied by China.