President Hu is expected to hold talks with Bagabandy and meet parliament leader Sanjibeghz Tumurochir and Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar. They will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

In a written speech distributed to reporters at the airport, President Hu said China and Mongolia are good neighbors joined by mountains and rivers and have a long history of friendship.

"We are happy to see that friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in politics, economics, trade, education, culture and other fields have been growing in recent years," he said.

"China attaches importance to the development of ties with Mongolia and is ready to push to a new level the good-neighborly cooperative relationship," he noted.

President Hu also expressed the hope that his visit will further promote the friendship between the two peoples and strengthen bilateral relations.

Bagabandy, together with Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun and other senior government officials, personally received President Hu at Ulan Bator's international airport.

Bagabandy also presided over a formal ceremony at the airport to welcome President Hu, who inspected the guards of honor accompanied by Bagabandy.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2003)