In a meeting with Suren Baasankhuu, state secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia and his party, Chi noted that China attaches importance to developing the good-neighborly friendly cooperation with its neighbors, including Mongolia.

Chi, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, said that the two countries have been helping each other and the bilateral cooperation has developed rapidly in recent years.

He said that the defence ministers and the chiefs of general staff of the two countries have realized exchange visits in the past few years, marking a further step in bilateral military relations.

Baasankhuu said that the Mongolian military is willing to conduct all-round friendly cooperation with the Chinese military, adding that the cooperation has been expanded and deepened in recent years.

He said that he believes his current visit to China will be helpful to the furthering of the cooperation between the two countries and their militaries.

(People's Daily 12/04/2000)