National leaders welcome Mongolian PM

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang held separate meetings with Mongolian Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag in Beijing on Friday, where the two countries signed a document on long-term partnership.

To further advance bilateral ties, Xi proposed the two sides should increase high-level interactions, enhance strategic cooperation, expand the scale and improve the quality of practical cooperation and expand people-to-people exchanges.

China and Mongolia should communicate more frequently on strategic issues, Xi said.

For his part, Altankhuyag said Mongolia gives priority to friendship and reciprocal cooperation with China in its foreign policy.

Also on Friday, Premier Li and Altankhuyag signed a document that outlines key areas of cooperation for the development of their strategic partnership in the medium and long term.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate on economic, security, social and cultural matters and on trade.

The two nations agreed to carry out cooperation in military technology, fighting cross-border crimes and law enforcement.

The outline elaborated on major projects in coal mining, railway construction and civil aviation, with legal and financial assistance.

They will also improve the discussion mechanisms among China, Mongolia and Russia and establish channels at the vice ministerial level among the three countries.