Editor's Note: Friday marked the first day of President Xi Jinping's packed schedule of meetings with leaders arriving for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The following provides highlights of the talks.

Jargaltulga Erdenebat,Mongolian prime minister

The relationship between China and Mongolia has enormous prospects and the two countries should take care of each other's core interests and major concerns, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat.

They should deepen mutual trust and make sure the relationship's development does not drift off track, Xi said.

The countries should accelerate the feasibility study for a bilateral free trade area and better cross-border economic ties, and expand cooperation in fields like minerals and major energy projects, infrastructure and connectivity, Xi said.

China supports Mongolia's role as a bridge and a bond for Eurasia, Xi said.

Erdenebat said that it is a priority for Mongolia to develop friendly cooperation with China and that Mongolia upholds the one-China policy.

Mongolia attaches great significance to the Belt and Road Initiative in tackling the imbalance in mankind's development and promoting world peace and development, he said. Mongolia is ready to play its role as a bridge and participate in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Erdenebat said.