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)
