The visit, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of Vietnam-Mongolia diplomatic relations (November 17, 1954-2014), aims to promote the traditional friendship and all-round co-operation between the two nations and to affirm Mongolia’s foreign relations policy of strengthening co-operation with Vietnam.
We are happy to see that since Vietnam and Mongolia established diplomatic ties in 1954, the traditional friendship and multifaceted co-operation between the two countries have always been maintained and fruitfully developed, particularly in political aspects and at UN forums.
The Vietnamese people will never forget Mongolia’s support during their resistance war against the US. After Mongolia’s change of mechanism in 1992, Mongolia continued to attach importance to the traditional friendship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam as one of its key partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Over many years the two countries have maintained visits between high-ranking leaders, ministries and agencies. Their security and defence co-operation has progressed particularly strongly in recent years.
The two countries have signed three treaties on friendship and co-operation – in 1961, 1979 and 2000 – and more than 20 agreements on co-operation in economics, trade, culture, education, science and technology and other areas. The Vietnam-Mongolia Inter-Governmental Committees on economic, scientific and technological co-operation, which were set up in 1979, have organised 15 working sessions and played a key role in developing economic and trade co-operation between the two countries. In December 2012, the two sides officially recognised each other as full market economies.
Vietnam and Mongolia signed their first trade agreement in 1958. However, two-way trade remains low – US$16.3 million in 2012, down US$2.5 million from the previous year. Bilateral educational, cultural and scientific co-operation has been implemented since the 1960s under an agreement signed by the two governments. Friendship associations of the two nations have organised many activities to contribute to boosting mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.
Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj’s State visit to Vietnam is expected to consolidate and strengthen the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two countries, especially in security-defence, economics, trade, agriculture, culture and education.
May the visit to Vietnam by President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj be successful, contributing to consolidating the friendship and traditional co-operation between the two countries, while at the same time realising Mongolia’s foreign policy of expanding its relations with Asia-Pacific and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.
