BON VOYAGE: Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Yu Hongyao (second right in the rear) poses with visiting students in Ulaanbaatar on August 5 before they left for home. A group of 60 Chinese students from areas hit by last May's devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province spent a weeklong holiday in Mongolia at the invitation of the Mongolian Government HAO LIFENG

Chinese and Mongolian officials hailed the two countries' "friendship and cooperation" as they inaugurated a photo exhibition in Beijing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations.

The exhibition, which opened on August 17 and will last until the end of the month, presents more than 150 photos featuring high-level visits, political and economic cooperation, as well as military, cultural and local exchanges between the two countries.

"The China-Mongolia friendship has become deeply rooted in the hearts of the people in both countries over the past 60 years," said China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue at the event.

Beijing and Ulaanbaatar have deepened political trust with frequent exchanges of high-level visits, while enjoying tangible benefits from their expanding economic cooperation, he said. Increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he noted, have enhanced the public support for their friendly ties.

In the realm of international and regional affairs, they have also coordinated and worked together, thus contributing to regional peace and stability, he added.

Mongolia is one of the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China, founded on October 1, 1949. It established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic on October 16 that year. The landlocked nation of 2.68 million people shares a common border of 4,710 km with China, its southern neighbor.

Bilateral trade between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar reached $2.438 billion in 2008, with Chinese exports totaling $906 million, and imports standing at $1.531 billion, according to statistics of Chinese customs.

Mongolian statistics indicate China is Mongolia's biggest foreign investor, with total investments amounting to $1.68 billion by the end of 2008.

Former Mongolian President Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat said the neighborly rapport has been the mainstream of the Mongolia-China relationship in the past six decades, despite some twists and turns.