Mongolian Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar told a visiting senior Chinese army officer on Sunday that it is the country's prime foreign policy to develop good-neighborly and friendly ties with China.

The Mongolian government is satisfied with the continued extension and development of the Mongolian-Chinese relations, Enkhbayar said at a meeting with Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Xiong arrived here earlier in the day to hold the defense security consultation with Mongolia, which is to start on Monday. It will be the first defense security consultation between the twocountries.

The Mongolian prime minister said the establishment of a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust between the two countries is conducive to peace and development of not only Mongolia and China, but also of the whole Asia-Pacific region, signifying the entry of bilateral relations into a new phase of development.

The Mongolian government attaches great importance to military relations between the two countries and believes that the bilateral defense security consultation will contribute to boosting trust and cooperation in the defense field between the two countries, he added.

Speaking on the same occasion, Xiong said that Chinese leaders attach great importance to relations with Mongolia and pointed outthat military relations are an important part of bilateral relations.

Xiong said that his presence here to attend the bilateral defense security consultation shows that Chinese leaders pay heightened attention to the relations between the two armed forces.

Xiong thanked the Mongolian government for its adherence to theone-China policy.

Mongolian Defense Minister Jugderdemidiin Gurragchaa had earlier met with Xiong on relations between the two countries and the two armed forces.

Source: Xinhua