SANYA, April 17 (Xinhua)-- China and Mongolia will make joint efforts to deepen bilateral relations, the two countries expressed here on Friday on the sidelines of the 2009 meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

    China is to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Mongolia as an opportunity to boost the bilateral relationship to a new high, said Premier Wen Jiabao when meeting his Mongolian counterpart Sanj Bayar in south China's Hainan Province.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with his Mongolian counterpart Sanj Bayar in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 17, 2009. Bayar arrived here to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009 which would be held in Boao, Hainan from April 17 to 19. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    At the current stage, the two sides should make active efforts to establish a sound mechanism for cooperation, adopt a well-coordinated manner through overall planning in bilateral relations, Wen said.

    Concerning bilateral cooperation, Wen said the two countries should give the priority to cooperation on infrastructure construction and mineral resources exploitation, and advance financial cooperation, so as to achieve common development, Wen said.

    China planned to continue assistance to Mongolia within its capacity, he said.

    Bayar said Mongolia was willing to work together with China for success of the commemorative events marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and step up exchanges on culture and education.

    On his five-day working visit to China from Tuesday, Bayar was here for the Boao Forum for Asia annual meeting, scheduled for April 17-19.

    Closer cooperation with China would exert great significance for Mongolia to tackle with the current global financial crisis, Bayar said, adding he hoped the two sides could make achievements on cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, mineral resources and transportation.

    Wen and Bayar also attended the signing ceremonies for bilateral cooperative documents including mineral resources, food safety and finance cooperation.