On June 7, 2012, Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj at the Great Hall of the People.
The development of China-Mongolia relations remains sound, Li said, adding that the two countries' establishment of a strategic partnership last year has raised bilateral relations to a new level. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been expanding and China has remained Mongolia's biggest trade partner and investor for many successive years. Both countries have maintained close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and humanities exchanges are also very active. China is willing to make joint efforts with Mongolia to further strengthen political mutual trust, treat each other with mutual respect and equality and accommodate each other's interests and concerns. He also urged both sides to cherish the traditional friendship, strengthen all-round cooperation and continuously push forward bilateral relations.
Li said that China and Mongolia provide each other with important opportunities for development and the advancement of bilateral relations has injected impetus into their respective economic construction and brought tangible benefits to both peoples. China and Mongolia should strengthen cooperation while adhering to a strategy of mutual benefit and common development and abiding by market rules and business principles to improve cooperation efficiency, Li said. Cooperation in major projects related to energy and mineral resources with demonstration effects should be expanded between the two countries, and cooperation in environmental protection, ecological and humanities areas should also be improved, Li said, adding both sides should promote port, highway and other infrastructure interconnectivity.
Elbegdorj said Mongolia regards the development of its relations with China as one of its primary foreign policies, adding that the current state of Mongolia-China relations has reached an "unprecedented level". Elbegdorj said both countries have significant potential for cooperation, adding that Mongolia is willing to boost high-level contacts with China and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in fields related to economy, trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture and animal husbandry and the prevention of desertification. He said both sides will promote exchanges among their peoples to lay a more firm foundation for the future development of Mongolia-China relations.