Beijing - Mongolia welcomes Chinese investment in its mineral resources and hopes its neighbor's growing economic strength will have a positive effect upon its own development, said the Mongolian ambassador to China.

Talking about Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Ulan Bator, the first by a Chinese premier in 16 years, Ambassador Tsedenjav Sukhbaatar said the two sides would step up friendship by signing agreements in the fields of finance, energy resources, science and technology, and infrastructure.

During Wen's two-day visit starting on Tuesday, he will hold talks with Mongolian leaders, take part in the opening ceremony of the China-Mongolia trade cooperation forum and unveil a Chinese culture center in Ulan Bator.