China marked the importance of relations with Mongolia yesterday as the two nations signed 10 agreements to reaffirm their friendship and pledged to increase ties.

The check of the Sino-Mongolian border and cooperation in the fields of mining and transportation are the major contents of the protocols.

Visiting Mongolian President Nambar Enkhbayar and President Hu Jintao witnessed the signing ceremony after an hour's closed-door meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Hu said China respected Mongolia's independence and territorial integrity, proposing for closer economic ties, which are expected to result in larger Chinese investment in Mongolian mining and infrastructure.

He also called for more cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, environment and the fight against epidemic. Hu said China supported the active role played by Mongolia as an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and supports the country's active participation in the northeast Asian and Asian regional cooperation.

Enkhbayar said China's rapid economic development has offered great opportunities for the bilateral cooperation, saying Mongolia is hoping to further use North China's Tianjin Port as its main route to the Asia Pacific to develop trade relations with the rest of the region.

The newly inaugurated Mongolian president illustrated the importance of stable Sino-Mongolian relations by choosing to visit China as his first trip abroad.

Enkhbayar also held talks yesterday with Premier Wen Jiabao and former Vice Premier Qian Qichen.

(China Daily November 29, 2005)