BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- China supports the efforts by Mongolia to strengthen its nuclear weapon-free status to help promote the regional stability, said a joint statement issued hereTuesday by the two countries.

    The two countries also agreed "not to participant in any military and political alliance targeting the other side", and "not to sign any treaties or agreements infringing on the national sovereignty and security of the other side with third countries".

    According to the statement, the two sides mentioned the significance of the high-level exchanges of visits, vowing to havemore direct contacts between the leaders. They also pledged to continue dialogues and cooperation in the political, economic and security fields, and meanwhile properly handle the problems existing in the bilateral relations.

    The first security consultations between the defense ministriesof the two countries is beneficial, said the statement, adding that they will continue to hold the consultations.

    The statement noted that the two sides will further the economic and trade cooperation with the resources exploration and infrastructure construction as the priority, and will promote the cooperation on culture, education, tourism and other areas. The two sides agreed to run the Mongolia culture week in China in 2005.

    The two sides reiterated building up a peaceful, friendly and cooperative border, said the statement.

    Mongolia reaffirmed in the statement that the People's Republicof China is the only legal government representing the whole China,and it will not support so-called "Taiwan Independence".

    The statement was issued on the visit by Mongolian President Nachagyn Bagabandy at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two countries also signed agreements on economic and trade cooperation, as well as a document on China's offering economic aid to Mongolia. Enditem