The measures to reinforce Vietnam-Mongolia’s bilateral traditional friendship were discussed at the talks between visiting Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat on May 8. The talks took place during the Vietnamese Vice President’s Mongolia visit at the invitation of the Mongolian Prime Minister.

To further promote bilateral ties, the two leaders also agreed to facilitate Vietnam’s exports of agro-fishery, processed products and consumer goods, machinery and household electrical devices to Mongolia and Mongolian businesses’ exports of meat, garment materials, footwear, and minerals to Vietnam. They were committed to extending cooperation in husbandry and farm product processing to serve the two nations’ needs and for export to the third country.

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Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (L) and Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat. Photo: VNA
During the talks, the host and the guest spoke highly of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in inspection and animal quarantine in April, and agreed to step up the implementation of the MoU on oil and gas.

The Vietnamese Vice President suggested that the Mongolian side introduce potential oil blocks to the Vietnamese side for joint exploitation, and affirmed that Vietnam is willing to create favorable conditions for the two countries’ airlines to conduct direct flights between Hanoi and Ulan Bator. Meanwhile, the Mongolian PM asked Vietnam to share its experiences in developing industry and tourism to help the country reduce its unemployment rate. He added that Mongolia will consider joining the intergovernmental Agreement on International Road Transport along the Asian Highway Network among Mongolia, China, and Russia inked in December 2016 to ease difficulties in transporting goods.  

The two sides also agreed to accelerate their cooperation in people-to-people exchange, information, culture, education, arts, and sports to raise mutual understanding and trust. They agreed to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Mongolia and Mongolian nationals in Vietnam.

In addition, the two leaders highly appreciated the close coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums, including the Asia-Europe Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the UNESCO. 

The guest emphasized the necessity to maintain peace, stability, maritime and aviation freedom and safety in the East Sea (South China Sea), settle disputes by peaceful means, respect diplomatic and legal process, comprehensively and effectively implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon complete a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of MoU on cooperation in population development, and welfare between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Mongolian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

At the meeting with Mongolian President, the Vietnamese leader thanked Mongolia’s valuable supports for the Vietnamese in their past resistance wars for national liberation and reunification and expressed delight at Mongolia’s achievements in developing its economy and improving its people’s living standards. She affirmed that Vietnam treasures relations with Mongolia, and hoped that the two countries will spare no efforts to boost their political trust, expand and raise the efficiency of their cooperation activities, enhance collaboration in regional and international issues of common concern, making contributions to strengthening Vietnam-Mongolia traditional friendship, meeting the two people’s aspirations for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world as a whole.

Meeting with the Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament and Chairman of the Mongolian People’s Party Miyegombo Enkhbold, the Vietnamese Vice President suggested regularly maintaining all-level visits and meetings to share experiences in the legislatures’ bilateral and multilateral affairs.

Translated by Tran Hoai