China and Mongolia have reached a five-point consensus covering political, economic, humanitarian and cultural fields, which analysts see as an ambitious endeavor to boost ties.

 

 

The consensus was reached during talks between Premier Wen Jiabao and his Mongolian counterpart Miegombyn Enkhbold in Beijing on Wednesday. It included:

 

-- Maintaining the strong growth of visits and exchanges to increase mutual understanding and trust as well as consolidating bilateral partnership.

 

-- Promoting economic and trade cooperation in the key areas of infrastructure and energy exploration, with cooperation on the construction of power stations, roads and railways in Mongolia, and the formulation of medium and long-term plans for economic and trade relations.

 

-- Expanding collaboration on natural resources, disaster prevention and relief, and the prevention and control of contagious diseases.

 

-- Fostering cultural and humanitarian co-operation, raising the number of student exchanges, and hosting activities of a "nation day."

 

-- Intensifying communication and coordination within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), strengthening the consultation mechanism between China, Mongolia and Russia and make joint efforts to safeguard regional stability and cooperation, and combat drugs trafficking.

 

Wen told Enkhbold the Chinese government would continue to develop friendly and cooperative relations with Mongolia and make joint efforts to contribute to the well-being of the two nations and peoples.

 

China and Mongolia established a partnership of mutual trust in 2003 when President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to Mongolia.

 

"China-Mongolia relations are at a new stage of stable development," Wen said.

 

Enkhbold said both nations had forged comprehensive ties in political, economic and trade, education and public health fields, adding that the development of long-term and stable ties with China was the staunch policy of the Mongolia government.?

 

Mongolia expected to join with China to improve the partnership, Enkhbold said, pledging to continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

 

After the talks, Wen and Enkhbold attended a signing ceremony for the agreements ranging from economic and technological cooperation, agriculture, infrastructure and finance to oil and mining cooperation.

 

Enkhbold arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to China.

 

In addition to Beijing, Enkhbold will visit Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

 

It is Enkhbold's first visit China since he took office as Mongolian Prime Minister in January.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2006)