ULAN BATOR - Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj held talks Thursday with visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on bilateral relations.

During their talks, Yang said the new Chinese leadership attached great importance to the China-Mongolia relations of good-neighborliness and friendship.

China respected Mongolia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity as well as the Mongolian people's choice of a development path, he said.

China stood ready to maintain high-level exchanges, promote mutual trust and offer unwavering support on issues concerning each other's core interests and those of each other's major concerns, Yang said.

The two sides needed to develop a mid- and long-term program for the China-Mongolia strategic partnership at an early date and advance cooperation in areas such as the exploitation of mineral resources, infrastructure construction and finance, he said.

Elbegdorj said Mongolia was willing to strengthen cooperation with China on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit in a bid to add fresh substance to the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Mongolia would give solid support to China on issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

During his visit, Yang also met Mongolian Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyg, Deputy Prime Minister Dendev Terbishdagva and Foreing Minister Luvsanvandan Bold to discuss cooperation.