Mongolia hosts China\\\'s leader, seeks port access

Landlocked Mongolia is hoping to secure better access to Chinese ports as President Xi Jinping becomes the first Chinese head of state in more than a decade to visit this sprawling resource-rich nation sandwiched between China and Russia. Xi arrived in the Mongolian capital on Thursday and was to meet with Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia later in the day. He also plans to meet on Friday with Prime Minister Altankhuyag Norov, who is chairman of Elbegdorj's ruling Democratic Party, and deliver a speech at the Great Hural, Mongolia's parliament. Faced with declining foreign investment and increased inflation and unemployment, Mongolia is desperate for more routes to export its mineral resources. Xi's trip to Mongolia — the first by a Chinese president in 11 years — is expected to include discussions on infrastructure investment, as well deals to help Mongolia export minerals through Chinese ports including Tianjin and Dalian, according to AP.