In Mongolia, Xi suggested deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation by perfecting the cooperative mechanism and actively exploring new areas and new forms of practical cooperation in fields such as mining resources and infrastructure development. Besides, cooperation in culture, humanitarian exchanges, public health, tourism, archaeology and disaster reduction should also be strengthened in future, said the Chinese vice president.

Xi's tour included three countries in the Middle East-Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Yemen.

China and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement on promoting their cooperation and strategic friendship-a further mark of progress in their bilateral relationship.

The two nations have similar ideas about oil policy, said Zhang Bin, a research fellow at the China Center for Energy Strategy Studies, CIIS. Saudi Arabia believes that rising oil prices is not tied to oil supply, but to the depreciation of the U.S. dollar, and China does not oppose this opinion, he said. The United States, the largest oil-consuming nation, has been pressing members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which includes Saudi Arabia as the cartel's largest oil producer, to raise their output. "The pressure forces Saudi Arabia to find friends," Zhang pointed out. China imports much of its oil from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia offered China precious aid after the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake. This has created a good cooperative atmosphere between the two countries, Zhang said.

China and Qatar decided to start political and economic dialogues. Xi said that China and Qatar now have the best-ever cooperative opportunity. The two sides should strengthen communication among high-ranking government officials so as to guide and map out cooperation in wider ranges such as trade, energy, finance, investment and infrastructure construction, Xi said.

China and Yemen agreed to strengthen their economic, technological, public health and educational cooperation. Xi also suggested that two countries strengthen practical cooperation of infrastructure development, energy and telecommunications.

In the meantime, as Xi said at the opening ceremony of a seminar on China-Saudi economy and trade in Jeddah, China has always adhered to peaceful development and an opening-up strategy of mutual benefit for developing friendly cooperation with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region, which will be a win-win solution for all sides concerned.