Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold underscored their commitment to seeking stronger cooperation when they met on Saturday on the sidelines of the annual session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), a pan-Asian platform for dialogue on key issues affecting Asia and the world.

Reviewing bilateral ties, Xi said China and Mongolia enjoyed a good-neighbor relationship. The two countries celebrated 60 years of diplomatic ties last year. China has been Mongolia“s biggest trade partner for 11 consecutive years and almost 1 million people traveled between the two countries last year, Xi said. He appreciated Mongolia“s understanding and support for China on issues concerning China“s core interests. With a 4,710-km border, China and Mongolia enjoyed a unique advantage in working together, Xi said, adding China would like to work with Mongolia to expand bilateral cooperation.

Batbold proposed the two countries work more closely in economy, trade, finance, minerals, energy, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. Batbold reaffirmed Mongolia would adhere to the one-China policy.

Batbold, one of 2,000 political and business figures and experts from Asia and around the world who gathered at the island resort in south China“s Hainan Province for the BFA annual session, said Mongolia paid much attention to the BFA as the forum played an important role in boosting regional cooperation.