On his first official visit to China since assuming office last year, Mongolian Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh hopes to develop bilateral ties and cooperation, saying it is a priority in Ulanbaatar’s foreign policy.

During the 8-12 April visit, U.Khurelsukh will attend the 2018 Boao Forum for Asia. This annual conference is to be held in the southern China from 8-11April.

‘It is a foreign-policy priority for Mongolia to strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation with China,’ U.Khurelsukh told the Xinhua news agency in an exclusive interview.

‘During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Mongolia in 2014, our two countries upgraded bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This represents  a historic decision to develop bilateral ties for decades to come.’

The prime minister said the Mongolia-China comprehensive strategic partnership needs to be taken forward by respecting each other’s core interests and strengthening political mutual trust.

During his visit, the two sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements in areas such as investment and industry. Mongolia is aiming to raise its trade turnover and diversify exports.

China is Mongolia’s largest trade partner and a major foreign investor. Bilateral trade grew 36 percent to reach USD 6.7 billion in 2017, accounting for 63 percent of Mongolia’s total trade. The two sides have set more ambitious challenges for themselves, raising the target to USD 10 billion by 2020.

Back in 2002, the bilateral trade stood at just USD 324 million.