Vietnam wants to step up ties with Mongolia: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh Orgil (Source: VNA)

The PM suggested the two countries continue high-level visits and exchanges as well as further extend ties across diplomacy, national defence and security. While lauding effective cooperation between the countries’ inter-governmental committees, Phuc asked for boosting collaboration in agro-fisheries to lift two-way trade.

With similarities, Vietnam and Mongolia also need to work together on culture, education and tourism, he said. The government leader wished that both countries would offer further support at regional and global forums, adding that Vietnam asks Mongolia to support the country and ASEAN’s stance on the maintenance of peace and stability, and guarantee of security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, full respect to diplomatic and legal processes, and settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Orgil, for his part, emphasised that Mongolia attaches special importance to developing ties with Asian-Pacific countries, including Vietnam. Informing the host of the outcomes of his talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, he said both sides pledged to push forward wide-ranging ties, and the two nations’ inter-governmental committees are working to further improve the efficiency of their partnership.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam would successfully host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2017. Mongolia is ready to coordinate with Vietnam in fields of its strength such as apparel, leather and footwear, he stated, adding that the country wants Vietnam to share its experience and boost links across culture, education and arts. According to him, the two sides should boost people-to-people exchange to foster traditional friendship between the two peoples.