Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador toMongolia Doan Khanh Tam has called the upcoming visit to Vietnam by President ofMongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh a milestone in the bilateralties in the context that the two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.  

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency(VNA) ahead of the tour from November 1-5, the diplomat recalled the first visit to Mongoliaby late President Ho Chi Minh in July 1955 after the establishment of the diplomaticties on November 17, 1954, and the visit to Vietnam by First Secretary of theMongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) Central Committee and Chairman ofthe Council of Ministers Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal in September 1959, saying they seta foundation for the friendship between the two peoples.
 
The two countries have maintained the exchange ofvisits and contacts between their high-ranking leaders, significantlycontributing to consolidating and enhancing their mutual political trust andunderstanding, he said.

At their recent meetings, Vietnamese and Mongolian leadersnoted their wish to strengthen the bilateral relationship across spheres, forthe sake of their peoples, and for peace, stability and development in theregion and the world at large, the diplomat continued.

Tam held that the time-honoured relationship, mutualsupport, attention of the two countries’ leaders, rich natural resources and improved production capacity havecreated a firm foundation and momentum for the cooperation in all spheres, fromeconomy and trade to science-technology, education, culture, sports andtourism.

Besides, localities of the two countries have alsoset up ties like Hanoi - Ulaanbaatar, Ho Chi Minh City – Ulaanbaatar,Hoa Binh – Tuv, and Dak Lak – Orkhon, he added.

Stressing the importance of Khurelsukh’s visit, Tamsaid it will be the 4th state visit to Vietnam by a MongolianPresident since the one by then President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in November2013.

High-level cooperation agreements to be signedduring the trip will create an important legal basis for the two countries toremove obstacles, and promote collaboration in the fields where both havestrengths such as agriculture, mining and tourism, and contribute to balancing thetwo-way trade, the diplomat said.

He suggested the two countries expand cooperation inmining, green growth, climate change response, and air pollution reduction,saying Vietnam should import animal products from Mongolia.

Vietnam has signed about 20 free tradeagreements (FTAs), he said, noting that through Vietnam, Mongolian businessescan access the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and othermarkets.

Trade between the two countries doubled to 85million USD in 2022 from only 41.4 million USD in 2017, and the value stood at about75 million USD in the first eight months of this year.

The ambassador emphasised that the two countriesboast substantial potential and advantages to promote cooperation in agriculture,tourism, education - training, science, information technology, digitaltransformation, digital economy, and energy, and expressed his firm belief thatthe relationship will grow further in the time ahead./.