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.

Mongolia

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.

Ethiopia

President Xi Jinping proposed promoting the China-Ethiopia relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership when meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Xi said their cooperation has been pioneering within China-Africa relations.

The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges, expand cooperation, and understand and support the core interests and major concerns of each other, Xi said.

The two countries should focus on working together in areas such as connectivity and production capacity, Xi said. Cooperation should be reinforced in areas like youth, women, universities, think tanks, media and culture, he said. China also welcomes expanded cooperation in aviation, Xi added.

China congratulates Ethiopia for joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supports Ethiopia's boosting the Belt and Road Initiative's role in bridging and bonding Africa.

The Ethiopian prime minister said there has been remarkable progress in cooperation between Ethiopia and China in a wide range of areas like economy and trade, investment, production capacity and infrastructure construction.

The initiative is a farsighted proposal of global significance, and it will be helpful in promoting connectivity and facilitating trade and investment cooperation, he said.

Poland

China views Poland as an important partner in cooperation within Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union, and it is ready to work together to enrich the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.

The two countries should strengthen cooperation in areas like infrastructure, transportation, logistics, finance, environmental protection and leading technology, and further balance bilateral trade, Xi said.

China endorses Poland's support for and participation in building the Belt and Road, and China expects Poland to play a proactive role within the EU, enhance China-EU ties, and promote cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe, Xi said.

Szydlo said the visit by Xi to Poland in June has boosted the relationship as well as their mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative, significant for global balance and sustainable development, is also important for Poland, she said.

Poland is ready to cooperate in areas such as infrastructure within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as in sectors such as investment, leading technology, tourism and culture, Szydlo said.

Czech Republic

China and the Czech Republic should expand youth exchanges and reinforce exchanges and cooperation in winter sports programs, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Czech President Milos Zeman.

Xi noted that the two countries built a bilateral strategic partnership last year, which ushered in a new era of ties, and the relationship is continuing its rapid development.

China is ready to work with the Czech Republic to move the relationship to a higher level, and the two sides should further uphold the political basis of mutual respect, Xi said.

They should boost cooperation in high-speed railways, nuclear power and finance, and continue expanding exchanges in education, culture, science and technology, health, tourism, and film and TV, Xi said.

The planning by the countries to build the Belt and Road Initiative is the first of its kind between China and the European countries, and it serves as a good example, Xi said. China expects other Central and Eastern European countries to similarly help build the initiative, Xi added.

Zeman said the Czech Republic is China's friend, and the bilateral friendship and cooperation has deepened.

The Czech Republic supports the initiative and is ready to participate within its framework, particularly in areas like trade, finance and infrastructure, Zeman said.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of cooperative documents involving areas such as building the initiative, small and medium-sized enterprises and health.

(China Daily 05/13/2017 page3)